Michael Cheika tables David Pocock refereeing conspiracy theory
Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has queried why all three test match officials were talking about David Pocock before a ball was kicked in their 39-21 Rugby World Cup victory over Fiji in Sapporo.
The men in gold eventually ran in six tries to two over their Pacific neighbours but they were made to work by the Fijians who took a two-point advantage into halftime and extended their lead with an early second-half try.
Deflecting from a question about Reece Hodge’s questionable table on Pecili Yato, Cheika instead tabled a potential conspiracy to focus on the Wallabies star backrow.
“I’m not quite sure what’s going on but the team of three were talking about David Pocock before the first minute of the game.
“I’m not sure why. I heard his name being mentioned between them on the commentary at least half a dozen times. He hadn’t even been involved in a ruck. I don’t why the focus is upon him. He’s only been in one game.
“He’s been out all year. I don’t what he’s done but there is a severe focus on him. His name is being called all the time.
“So I was a little bit surprised by that.”
He eventually addressed the Hodge tackle that saw Yato taken out of the game after he failed a HIA in the first half.
“To be honest I really didn’t see it. I didn’t even see it in the game.
“The one thing I know is that the Fijian captain went up and spoke to the referee and asked him to refer it, which he did, and it went to the TMO and he told him that the tackle was fine. And you’ve got to go with what they say.”
Fiji came out in predictably physical fashion, mixing in big hits in defense with some powerful carries and flair in attack to open up a 21-12 lead after 45 minutes.
But as the second half wore on, Michael Cheika’s men found their spark and turned around a mistake-ridden start to pile on the points and run away with an important bonus-point win.
The Australians scored two first half tries, the first by skipper Michael Hooper who barged through would-be tacklers for his, before Reece Hodge finished neatly in the corner of some slick hands for Australia’s second.
But those tries weren’t good enough to give the Wallabies the lead at the break, with Fijian standout Peceli Yato registering the first five-pointer inside 8 minutes of play and Ben Volavola landing three penalty goals to send Australia to the dressing rooms down 12-14.
It wasn’t until midway through the second stanza that the Wallabies pack took control of the match, with hooker Tolu Latu’s powerful effort off a maul in the 57th minute opening the floodgates.
Latu notched another one from a lineout drive five minutes later, after Fiji centre Levani Botia was yellow-carded, and the Wallabies continued to heap the set- piece pressure on a tiring Fijian pack.
The backs would also eventually get in on the action with Fijian-born duo Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete crossing late to finish the job and give the Wallabies the result they were looking for to kick off their Rugby World Cup 2019 campaign.
Wallabies 39 (Tolu Latu 2, Michael Hooper, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete tries; Matt To’omua 2, Christian Lealiifano cons; Reece Hodge pen) defeated Fiji 21 (Peceli Yato, Waisea Nayacalevu tries; Ben Volavola con; Ben Volavola 3 pens)
Wallabies
1.Scott Sio 2.Tolu Latu 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4.Izack Rodda 5.Rory Arnold 6.David Pocock 7.Michael Hooper (c) 8.Isi Naisarani 9. Nic White 10.Christian Lealiifano 11.Marika Koroibete 12.Samu Kerevi (vc) 13.James O’Connor 14.Reece Hodge 15.Kurtley Beale
Reserves: 16.Jordan Uelese 17.James Slipper 18.Sekope Kepu 19.Adam Coleman 20.Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 21.Will Genia 22.Matt To’omua 23.Dane Haylett-Petty
Fiji
1.Campese Ma’afu 2.Sam Matavesi 3.Reni Ravai 4.Tevita Cavubati 5.Leone Nakarawa 6.Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c) 7.Peceli Yato 8.Viliame Mata 9.Frank Lomani 10.Ben Volavola 11.Semi Radradra 12.Levani Botia 13.Waisea Nayacalevu 14.Josua Tuisova 15.Kini Murimurivalu
Reserves: 16.Tuvere Vugakoto 17.Eroni Mawi 18.Manasa Saulo 19.Tevita Ratuva 20.Mosese Voka 21.Nikola Matawalu 22.Alivereti Veitokani 23.Vereniki Goneva
Wallabies substitutions
52 mins – Genia for White, 57 mins – Salakaia-Loto for Naisarani, 59 mins – To’omua for Lealiifano, 63 mins – Slipper for Sio, 63 mins – Uelese for Latu, 63 mins – Kepu for Alaalatoa, 68 mins – Coleman for Arnold, 70 mins – Haylett-Petty for Beale
– additional reporting rugby.com.au
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments