Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has added weight to concerns about the selective nature and influence of big-screen replays in Test rugby.

While Cheika had no excuses for Australia’s 29-26 loss to France in Paris, he was left frustrated by an incident which highlighted the refereeing grey area.

Hooker Saia Fainga’a was caught a glancing blow by a French forward’s head while caught in a ruck in the second half on Saturday night and Cheika was bemused that referee Nigel Owens’ request to get the incident replayed on the big screen was initially ignored by those who controlled the stadium feed.

“The referee was asking for the replay but they refused it,” Cheika said.

“They showed it at the very start but he didn’t notice it.

“He wasn’t asking for the TMO (television match official) to adjudicate on it, he just wanted to see it on the big screen himself and they wouldn’t put it up.

“He said to (captain) Michael Hooper ‘well, if I can’t see the replay,I can’t do anything about it.'”

It follows All Blacks coach Steve Hansen last week voicing his frustration at the perceived selective nature of big-screen replays at match venues favouring the home team and potentially influencing the referee.

Hansen claimed Owens appeared to have been swayed by a multitude of replays on at least two occasions during the All Blacks’ 24-21 win over England at Twickenham.

“My biggest concern is that the TV producers are starting to have an influence on the game,” Hansen said.

“If something goes wrong, we see a replay 10 times even though the referee hasn’t seen it, the touch judge hasn’t seen it, the TMO hasn’t seen it.”

Hansen has proposed the use of a challenge system to simplify the issue, allowing the coach or captain to contest a decision they believe is wrong.

IRB referees’ boss Joel Jutge has said the possibility will be explored but no changes will be made before next year’s World Cup.