Craig Joubert made wrong decision - World Rugby

WORLD Rugby has confirmed that referee Craig Joubert's controversial penalty award in Australia's World Cup win over Scotland was incorrect.

Joubert made the wrong decision when he awarded a contentious late penalty to Australia that ultimately knocked Scotland out of the Rugby World Cup, World Rugby has said.

Scotland were just seven minutes away from a famous quarter-final upset at Twickenham when Mark Bennett pounced on awful James Slipper pass and sprinted under the posts to put Vern Cotter's men 34-32 ahead.

However, late drama ensued when South African official Joubert awarded a penalty for accidental offside against Jon Welsh despite Australia's Nick Phipps seemingly playing the ball with his hand.

Bernard Foley subsequently kept his cool to kick the winning points as Australia progressed to the final four with a 35-34 victory, but World Rugby says a scrum should have been awarded as Phipps' intervention put Welsh onside.

However, rugby union's governing body said that under the protocols of the game Joubert could not have consulted with the television match official over the decision.

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