Cheika on contentious call: 'That's Life'
"Mate its a penalty and that's the way it works. You know they work both ways in all games and that's life," said Cheika after the 35-34 win at Twickenham.
"You've still got to kick it to get it."
Scotland coach Vern Cotter said he did not see enough of the knock on-offside called by South African referee Craig Joubert in the last minute with the Scots leading 34-32.
With rain pouring down, Bernard Foley put the ball through the posts and Australia won.
"They made a great game and we just had to get through it somehow," said Cheika.
"We weren't at our best, but we got the job done. We got five tries and we will enjoy moving on."
Scotland got only two tries but always had the Wallabies under pressure.
"We gave away a try and a charge down and then an intercept and they got one through the ruck. That wasn't good we need to block that area up," said Cheika.
"I think we were just a little bit flat in the first half in particular," added the 48-year-old coach.
"In the second half we got ourselves back up a bit more line speed and back into the game."
New Zealander Cotter choked back emotion as he told of his disappointment.
"It's pretty tough," he said.
"The guys played, I thought, very well. A great performance, they never let go, they fought the whole way," Cotter declared.
"I am really proud of them."
Cotter said Joubert had made an "important decision" in the last minute but gave no verdict for or against.
"I will let other people analyse it, I will go back and have a quiet moment, without the emotion and I will look at it then."
Cotter – who has turned the Scots round from wooden spoon 'winners' in the Six Nations only months ago – said the Scotland players should "hold their heads up."
"They were written off before the game and I though they played well. They wanted to express themselves and they did. They carried well, they defended very well and put this team who were favourites for the competition under pressure," added the 53-year-old.
Agence France-Presse
