Saturday 27 August 2016 13:52, UK
Australia coach Michael Cheika expects New Zealand prop Owen Franks to be punished after appearing to gouge Wallabies lock Kane Douglas in the eye during the All Blacks' 29-9 win on Saturday.
The incident was one of a number which saw tempers boil over on both sides as referee Romain Poite struggled to retain control, with Australia far more confrontational in response to their 42-8 mauling last week.
"We saw it at the time," said Cheika. "I'm sure the match review (officer) will pick that up. It was pretty open, it would be pretty hard for the match review guy to miss."
While Cheika admitted the All Blacks played well in Wellington, he believed his side were hurt by a high penalty count and pointed the finger at the referee Romain Poite. The Australia boss said he had already raised with world referees boss Alain Rolland his concerns about both Poite and Welshman Nigel Owens from previous Wallabies matches they had controlled.
"There was a time there in the game, in a break in play (against the All Blacks), when the national captain of Australia is asking the referee 'when might be an opportunity for me to talk to you' and he absolutely ignored him," Cheika said.
"He's got the whistle, I understand, but there's a place where the captain has an opportunity to speak to the referee.
"The referee may not like the captain personally, that might be his prerogative, but he has to afford him that opportunity he's afforded his opponents."
Cheika also believed Poite should have stopped the game when Wallabies forward David Pocock was being called off the field by an assistant referee for a head injury assessment.
"I don't know if it's subconscious or not but it's there and it's got to be dealt with because that can't be going on," Cheika said.
"Is it a pre-determined position on our players? I asked Alain Rolland. I saw him last week in Sydney, and he said 'no, it's a surprise if it is'.
"It's pretty blatant to anyone listening to the referee's comments during the game."
