Australia coach Michael Cheika has launched a remarkable attack on the Fijiian management team after wing Reece Hodge was cited following Saturday’s meeting between the sides.
Hodge escaped punishment on the field for a tackle that left Fiji flanker Peceli Yato concussed and prevented a try.
Hodge ended up scoring a try as Australia came from behind to win, but will face a citing commission in Tokyo that could see him banned.
Cheika accused Fiji’s management of breaking “the spirit of the game” because they had led him to believe that they would not be referring the tackle to the citing commissioner.
“I don’t find the way that they brought that (referral) in the spirit of the game at all, which is something you know from Fiji,” Cheika said.
“I’d prefer that they come up to me and get upset with me if they’re really upset about it, not to just talk to me in that nice, friendly chitty-chat way and then go behind your back and put in a referral.
"I don’t think I’ve ever referred anyone over my time.”
Cheika also criticised World Rugby, saying they undermined their referees and that this incident went against protocol he had been talked through at a meeting before the tournament.
“What is unnerving for me is their lack of confidence in the referees,” Cheika said.
“That puts doubt in the referees for the next game - ‘oh what do I do?’. And that’s not fair for the referees.”
