Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has blasted Scottish referee Mike Adamson and his team of officials in the wake of a rollercoaster 29-28 loss to Wales in Cardiff this morning.
Australia played the majority of the match with 14 men after No.8 Rob Valetini was sent off for a sickening head clash with Wales lock Adam Beard.
But it was the decision to award a try to Wales centre Nick Tompkins in the second half which really riled Rennie.
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“I thought some of the decision making tonight by the officials was horrendous and played a big part in the result,” Rennie said.
“Kurtley Beale got sinbinned for slapping the ball down. They did the same thing, clearly goes forward and they get seven points out of it.
“So obviously really disappointed with the result. We’ll end up getting an apology next week no doubt but it won’t help the result.”
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In the end, a last gasp penalty condemned the Wallabies to their first winless autumn tour of Europe in 45 years.
Ill discipline heavily contributed to defeats against Scotland and England, and the Wallabies wrote the same script at Principality Stadium, and yet almost pulled off a remarkable victory.
Australia rallied with a third try to trail by one point, Beale kicked them in front in the 78th minute, but Wales strung together 19 phases to hammer the try line going into the 82nd and received a penalty.
Rhys Priestland, Wales’ fourth choice five-eighth, teed it up from close and to the left and coolly slotted the match winner and pumped his fist.
Valetini was sent off in the 15th minute after tackling too high and clattering heads with Beard.
Beard covered a bloodied bandage over his right eye and Valetini appeared to apologise to him as they walked off.
But Valetini should have apologised to his team, as well.
They were leading 7-3, playing well.
They hung on until Beale was yellow carded for a deliberate knockdown and lost the lead to the first of two Wales tries.
But Wales, as they did against 14 man Fiji last weekend, couldn’t fully exploit their one or two man advantages.
Valetini is an incredible sixth player to be red carded against Wales this year, and the Welsh have posted four wins, a draw and a loss.
They made it hard on themselves to beat Australia, though.
The Welsh led 23-13 approaching the hour mark until they had one of their own sinbinned, replacement prop Gareth Thomas.
Australia, confident throughout, zipped in its second and third tries, and James O’Connor had a chance to regain the lead with a third conversion attempt, but his sideline shot hit the near post.
Cue Beale to kick them ahead, and a breathtaking finish from Wales to beat the Wallabies three times in a row for the first time since 1975.
