“Complete joke”: Wallabies World Cup “disgraceful” move
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wallabies star Samu Kerevi has said he would consider a switch to the NRL after being penalised for a controversial tactic - a move that contributed to Australia’s 29-25 loss on Sunday. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sportsman was whistled for a penalty after his fend-off of Welsh fly half Rhys Patchell appeared to slip up to the opponents throat. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Captain Michael Hooper became clearly frustrated after the third penalty was awarded against the Wallabies in the first half. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The match referee Romain Poite’s explanation for the penalty was given following an extensive number of replays. </span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em> Samu Kerevi was penalised for leading with the arm against Wales' Rhys Patchell.</em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They deemed Kerevi had dangerously raised his forearm into Patchell's chest/neck area.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, he believes he has done nothing wrong and slow motion replays had worked against him. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I've been playing with that for my whole career. It's the first time I've heard that I can't lead with my arms and bump," he said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The worrying thing is if he's falling and I keep moving forward, which I would normally do, I could touch his head."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"What do we do in that split second? ... I might as well just stop."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Patchell missed the resulting penalty kick, Wales scored a dubious try on a missed offside call just seconds before half time. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wales led 23-8 at the break and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fox Sports</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> commentator Phil Kearns shared his opinion on the officiating clear.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The whole refereeing display has been disgraceful,” Kearns said.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Just embarrassing.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hoover couldn’t hold back his own fury after the penalty was called by Poite and TMO. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Can we not run into the tackle anymore?” he asked.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That is terrible tackle technique, he’s (Kerevi) just done a very good carry.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We can’t carry if that’s going to be the ruling.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wallabies fans took to social media to share their own opinions with one deeming Poite’s call as a “horrible decision”. </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Horrible decision!! How can Kerevi control where the opposition tackles. Penalty for poor tackle technique. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvWAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvWAL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rugbyworldcup2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rugbyworldcup2019</a></p>
— Dean Mumm (@DeanMumm) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanMumm/status/1178226634941288449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">Rugby now officially a complete joke. What a farce. Runners now have to protect tacklers doing stupid things.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvWAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvWAL</a></p>
— Mark Riley (@Riley7News) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley7News/status/1178226984939245568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr">What's going on with rugby? You can't run into player and fend them off now? It's a contact sport. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvWAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvWAL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RWC2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RWC2019</a></p>
— Arvind Hickman (@ArvindHickman) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindHickman/status/1178226899287511040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
