'Embarrassing for the game': Michael Cheika left fuming as England farewell ends in tears
Michael Cheika has been left fuming after his Leicester side fell short in the Rugby Championship final against Bath on Sunday morning (AEST).
The former Wallabies coach is set to leave the English club and was hoping to do so with some silverware, but it wasn't to be in a tight decider.
Cheika's men fell 23-21 against Bath in front of a boisterous crowd at Twickenham, but there was one crucial moment that left the Australian-born coach up in arms.
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With the game in the balance late in the second half, Tigers prop Dan Cole was sin binned for a late tackle on Finn Russell after he kicked the ball.
Karl Dickson sends Dan Cole to the sin bin. Getty
Emeka Ilione's late try wasn't enough for Leicester to claw their way back in the dying stages and the decision to give Cole a yellow card ultimately proved costly.
Speaking post-game, Cheika made his feelings known in no uncertain terms.
"I thought we got nothing back from the referee at all and we kept on coming back and turning up," the coach said.
"We scored three tries to two, that tells you something. I'm super proud of the players.
"Two men in the bin - the second one for nothing, really. It is embarrassing for the game that someone goes off for that. For me personally, if the game is sending players to the sin bin for that, or even penalising ... what do I say mate?
Michael Cheika. Getty
"If I say something, I'll get myself in strife and take away from the other team. I just have to beat myself up inside and try and keep as much as I can inside.
"I've got my feelings on the referee's performance but I'll take that up with [head of refereeing] Paul Hull as one last final…banter, let's say.
"I'm allowed to be angry, but I'm over it and happy to accept the result now."
It wasn't only a bitter ending for Cheika as the team's coach, but also for Cole as he finishes a career that spanned almost two decades with Leicester.
The 38-year-old was in tears after the full-time whistle as his career came to an end alongside long-time teammate Ben Youngs.
Bath now move into second spot for most English titles won with seven.
Leicester remain the most successful club in history with 11 titles.
