Gatland: Referees must "give us a chance"

Warren Gatland has urged referees to "give us a chance" ahead of tomorrow's final Autumn International, against Australia.

The Wales Coach revealed Wales have received two apologies from officials during the series so far this season and he believes his side should be getting more of the 50/50 decisions in games.

"You just say to referees 'give us a chance' with some of the 50/50 calls.

"I said to Craig Joubert (who refereed Wales against New Zealand) that I look at games - and I am not questioning the integrity of referees here - thinking 'that's a bit of a rough call against us' and I also think 'where are the tough calls against them?'.

"It's the old Manchester United scenario where they get 70-odd per cent of the 50/50 calls.

"But you have to create your own luck and that's up to us putting ourselves in the minds of referees in terms of them not refereeing us so much or allowing the opposition to get away with a bit."

Wales are yet to win in this Autumn's series and losing against Australia on Saturday would be a sixth straight defeat.

It would also mean Wales slip out of the top eight places in the international rankings, something which would have major implications for his sides positioning in the draw for the 2015 World Cup.

Gatland is hoping for a major turn around in form against the Wallabies but is clear that some of that form has been down to decisions going against them at key times in games, including from Wayne Barnes, who takes charge against Australia.

"On Saturday in the first minute there could easily have been a red card (for Andrew Hore's challenge on Bradley Davies)," he said.

"At the first breakdown Richie McCaw has come in from the side and not been penalised, Aaron Jarvis has gone to clean him out and got injured.

"The referee against Samoa apologised to Rob Howley for a neck throw on Ken Owens and said it should have been a yellow card.

"Wayne Barnes was on the line and put his flag out for a penalty, but it should have been a minimum of a yellow card and those are the 50/50 calls you are looking to hopefully go your way.

"Referees don't go into games favouring one team or another, but sometimes you have to change that perception.

"We have to work harder for them maybe not being prepared to potentially referee an upset. It's that balance."