Australia coach Michael Cheika fumes at referee after third Test defeat to England

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was unhappy with the officiating during the series

Australia coach Michael Cheika slammed referee Nigel Owens for allowing play to continue when the ball hit an overhead camera wire during the 44-40 third Test defeat to England in Sydney.

The incident came two minutes after the restart in the second half when Australia were receiving a kick inside their own half, with England regaining possession as a result.

Owens, as was his discretion, let play continue as he thought the disruption of the flight of the ball had impacted on both sides equally, an assessment that Cheika wholeheartedly disagreed with following his side's 3-0 series whitewash.

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"It can't hit the camera wire and play on," he said. "It's 50-50 for each team? No way, if you are waiting to catch a ball and hits the wire you are all of a sudden out of position. I don't see how that can be play on."

From the next passage of play, Australia captain Stephen Moore overthrew the ball at a defensive lineout and although England flanker Chris Robshaw was held up at the line, Billy Vunipola scored from the back of the ensuing scrum.

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"Moore was throwing a line-out ball and the linesman was pushing him in the back," added Cheika. "He's telling the referee he wants England to move out of the gap and he's pushing Stephen in the back when he's throwing the ball in, and he misses the throw.

"That intervention's not required, then the ball hits the spidercam and intervention is required."

Cheika said he had complained about the refereeing after Australia suffered a heavy penalty count in the first two Tests.

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"I don't think all the penalties have just been the result of our discipline and it's no secret that I haven't been happy with the refereeing," he said.

"It's cost us a lot of points, hasn't it. How many? 66 in kicked goals? That's a lot. But I'm not going to say it's cost you games or anything like that."