Pinged.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt had a few things to say about referee Angus Gardner this week ahead of their World Cup pool clash with Japan this morning.

Gardner took charge of Ireland against Wales in the Six Nations earlier this year, and Schmidt called him out for not give his side a fair “rub of the green” against the eventual Grand Slam winners.

Whether or not Gardner took notice of those comments we’ll never know but after Ireland’s shock defeat to Japan this morning – Schmidt once again had a word or two to say about the Australian official.

The Ireland boss feels his side were unfairly pinged for offside penalties on a number of occasions, allowing Japan a foothold in the game that led to another famous World Cup win.

“I felt we played well in the first quarter. We got out to a 12-3 lead but then we stopped playing to a degree.” Schmidt said after the game

“It was pretty difficult. We probably fell on the wrong side of the penalty count.

“Maybe three or four of them were for offsides that we felt were pretty tough.

“I do feel that they could have gone either way – particularly with some of theirs as well.

“It just gave them the front foot and they didn’t button off.”

The Ireland boss, however, didn’t take away from Japan’s incredible performance.

“But congratulations to Japan. What a furious and tense effort it was,” Schmidt added

“They’re a tremendous side and they did really well.”