WORLD Rugby admitted that referee Craig Joubert got it wrong when he awarded a last-minute penalty that secured Australia’s victory over Scotland in their World Cup quarterfinal.

    The global governing body gave a rare verdict on a referee’s actions amid an outcry in Britain over the penalty that Bernard Foley kicked to snatch a 35-34 victory for the Wallabies at Twickenham.

    Australia now plays Argentina in the semifinals Sunday following their close shave with an upset.

    The South African referee ran straight from the field after blowing the final whistle amid jeers from Scotland fans. Former internationals labeled Joubert “a disgrace.”

    Rugby’s watchdog rarely makes such damning verdicts public. While the review committee called out the 37-year-old Joubert, it said he remains an “important” member of the referee team.

    He was not named to officiate the semifinals this weekend however.

    The Scottish Rugby Union said it would make no comment on the decision, indicating the storm was now over and the result should be left to stand.

    With Scotland leading 34-32 in Sunday’s quarterfinal, Joubert penalized Scotland’s Jon Welsh for offside for playing the ball following a knock-on by a teammate.

    After reviewing television images, the committee said it was “clear” that after the knock-on, Australia’s Nick Phipps touched the ball and that a player can be put onside by an opponent who intentionally plays the ball.

    “The appropriate decision, therefore, should have been a scrum to Australia for the original knock-on.”

    The six-member committee — headed by former Scotland flanker John Jeffrey — stressed though that as no foul play had been involved, Joubert could not have referred the incident to the third match official and a television replay.

    (SD-Agencies)