Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says a representative of the team will meet with referee Craig Joubert prior to the second Test, despite declaring two days ago he had no intention of doing so.

Cheika told reporters the Australian team had been invited to a meeting on Friday with South African Joubert, considered one of the game’s top officials, which was initiated by the England coaching staff.

It comes after the Wallabies were on the wrong end of a 15-8 penalty count in the first Test, which gave the tourists the platform to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

“We didn’t ask the referee for the meeting,” Cheika said.

“The rules are that if you ask for a meeting, the other team gets invited, if they want to take up the opportunity.

“We figured we would. We’ll go along and have a listen.”

The rule Cheika was referring to is regulation 15.4.2 from the World Rugby handbook, which states that while coaches are permitted to meet with referees prior to international fixtures, it is only allowed if there are representatives from both teams present – that is, unless one side declines the opportunity.

Cheika didn’t know if he would be going to the meeting himself, or if another Wallaby representative would go instead.

Frenchman Romain Poite refereed the series opening Test in Brisbane and it’s understood England coach Eddie Jones met with him before the match.

“We didn’t know last week, so we will this week,” Cheika said.

Cheika said there was no need to clear things up with the referees as the Australian side knew where they went wrong last weekend.

“We saw where we went wrong so we know what we need to fix,” he said.

“We’ve got to clear our own things up first before we start worrying about that.

“You don’t want to be in a situation to not even give penalties away, and not even leave those things to interpretation.

“Once we do that, it won’t be an issue for us.”