‘Absolutely moronic’: Wallabies fume at contentious yellow card in England clash

After suffering a two-point loss last weekend, the visitors raced to a 13-0 at Suncorp Stadium with England No. 8 Billy Vunipola diving over in the fourth minute.

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England was on the attack once again soon after, with five-eighth Marcus Smith throwing a cut-out pass towards Tommy Freeman on the left wing in the 21st minute.

But Perese intervened, desperately leaping to his right with one outstretched hand and dropping the intercept chance — much to the frustration of Australian fans.

However, boos echoed around the venue after the 25-year-old was given a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, leaving the Wallabies with 14 men for 10 minutes.

“It’s not clear and deliberate,” former All Black Andrew Mehrtens said on Stan Sport commentary.

“I absolutely take issue with this.”

Australian legend Tim Horan continued: “I’m not sure what else you’re supposed to do.

“There’s no motion to knock that ball, he’s trying to drag it in.

“This is the absurdity that we’re seeing at the moment, there’s just no common sense applied to some of the rulings.”

To rub salt into the wound, star centre Owen Farrell booted a penalty kick to extend England’s lead to 16-0.

Injured Wallabies winger Andrew Kellaway fumed: “What’s he supposed to do? He goes for the ball. As a fan I’d hate to see it. The only people who seem happy about it are England.”

Thankfully, the Wallabies were able to muster a try before the halftime break, with prop Taniela Tupou scoring Australia’s first points in the 36th minute.

England returned to the sheds with a 19-7 lead.

Earlier, the Wallabies were showered with praise for singing the Australian national anthem in Yugambeh language in recognition of NAIDOC week.

Originally published as ‘Absolutely moronic’: Wallabies fume at contentious yellow card in England clash