Chief executive Brett Gosper has defended World Rugby after a statement was released criticising referee Craig Joubert.

South African Joubert awarded a last-minute penalty to Australia during their Rugby World Cup quarter-final victory over Scotland.

The governing body later said that the penalty should not have been awarded.

"I don't think we regret what we said to the press, what was clear was that we had to investigate why TMO wasn't used," Gosper told Sky Sports News. "When you explain that, you also have to obviously own up to the fact that TMO did show there was an error.

"We certainly weren't doing that to be critical of Craig Joubert, who is a great referee, one of the world's finest and a good man. Players make mistake, referees also make mistakes.

"I think there was a bit of perception that we threw him under the bus, which was certainly not our intent. Our intent was simply to clarify and say that's what the TMO showed, that's what happened and these things do happen."

Australia progressed to the final but were beaten 34-17 by New Zealand.