Leicester Tigers' Michael Cheika angry after Dan Cole shown yellow card 'for nothing' in Premiership final - 'Embarrassing for the game'

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Michael Cheika has complained his Leicester Tigers side "got nothing back from the referee" during their Premiership final defeat against Bath, claiming Dan Cole's yellow card late on was "embarrassing for the game". Playing in the final match of his career, the veteran saw yellow in the 70th minute, moments after Leicester had reduced their deficit to six points, and the decision proved costly.

'Embarrassing for the game' - Cheika slams officiating in Premiership final, hails his 'tough' side

Video credit: TNT Sports

Michael Cheika has said the decision to send Dan Cole to the sin-bin was "embarrassing for the game" following Leicester Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership final defeat against Bath.

Bath ran out 23-21 winners in a tightly-fought contest at Allianz Stadium Twickenham to win their first Premiership title in 29 years and clinch a historic treble.

The Premiership table-toppers had established a 20-7 advantage by the 52nd minute but had their lead cut when Solomone Kata crossed for Leicester 12 minutes from time.

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But Leicester’s fightback was dealt a decisive blow just two minutes later when Cole, making his final appearance before retirement, was sent to the sin bin for a charging tackle on Finn Russell, who converted the subsequent penalty.

It was the second sin-bin of the match for Leicester, after captain Julian Montoya saw yellow for a high tackle on Ted Hill in the opening period.

Cole sin-binned moments into final ever appearance in blow for Leicester Tigers

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Speaking at full-time, Cheika said Cole was shown a yellow card "for nothing" and claimed his side "got nothing back from the referee" throughout the contest.

When asked if he was angry at points during the game, the Leicester head coach told TNT Sports: "Very. Just upset about the decisions on the field. Obvious ones, not 50-50.

"The scrum we were dominating completely, a couple of head knocks, a couple of balls where we could have got penalties easily.

"Two men in the bin, the second one for nothing. It’s embarrassing for the game, really, that a player goes off for that.

"I just felt that was the way the flow of the game was, and I’m allowed to be angry. Got over it, happy to accept the result now and on with the next thing."

Saturday’s final was Cole’s last game in professional rugby, alongside Ben Youngs, with the pair retiring as the two most capped men in English international history.

Highlights: Bath hold off Leicester Tigers fightback to end 29-year wait for title

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Despite a late try from Emeka Ilione following Cole’s dismissal, Bath were able to hold on to claim their seventh Premiership title as Russell's third and final penalty proved decisive.

Leicester had taken the lead in the match when Jack van Poortvliet crossed after just six minutes, but they found themselves trailing at the break following a Russell penalty and Thomas du Toit’s try.

Johann van Graan’s side were able to extend their lead at the start of the second period as Russell converted his second penalty of the match before making a superb interception, running half the length of the pitch and teeing up Max Ojomoh to cross under the posts.

The defeat means Leicester, who finished 11 points behind Bath in the regular season, miss out on a record-extending 12th Premiership title, with their last triumph coming in 2022.

Cheika will now leave his role as head coach, having only signed for Leicester on a one-year deal at the start of the campaign.

Watch and stream the Gallagher Premiership on TNT Sports and discovery+

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