WILL Skelton’s senseless sin-binning earned the ire of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika after the side escaped with a one-point win over Scotland despite being short a man in the final stages of the game.

Late Kuridrani try seals Wallabies win over Scotland

With Australia down 22-16 and attacking deep in Scotland’s quarter in the 69th minute, Skelton launched into Johnny Gray at a ruck without trying to wrap his arms around the defender.

The dangerous contact from his shoulder left referee John Lacey no choice but to sin-bin Skelton, who had only been on the field for seven minutes, and also overturn a penalty he’d given to Australia before referring the shoulder barge incident to television officials.

The Wallabies would later go on to win 23-22 via a match-winning try by Tevita Kuridrani but Cheika’s frustration with Skelton was clear in the coaches’ box and afterwards at the press conference.

“It’s fair, he’s got to put his arms around that guy and he knows that, it’s ill-disciplined from him,” Cheika said.

“Those decisions come down to the ref - whether it’s a penalty or a yellow, but regardless it’s an offence. He doesn’t have to do it.

“It’s after the whistle. We had our own penalty, it’s after the whistle and it wasn’t clever.

“He knows that himself. I don’t even need to tell him so I don’t think he’ll be worried about me saying it here.”

Skelton was playing his first Test since August, when Cheika dropped him for being unfit.

He has since quit sugar as part of a new diet and worked his way back into the team.

With three Tests remaining on tour, Skelton will be hoping for quick forgiveness from his coach.