Cheika faces Kiwi inquisition
Michael Cheika may have been cleared by SANZAR, but he is set to face a new trial by media in New Zealand this week.
The defending champion Waratahs will cross the Tasman Sea to face the table-topping Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
Although Cheika copped a formal warning from Super Rugby's governing body, SANZAR, the New Zealand media have not forgiven him for his illegal actions – when he approached referee Jaco Peyper at half-time in his team's win over the Blues two weeks ago.
The Kiwis still believe his exchanges unduly influenced the match official and resulted in a dramatic second-half turnaround in the match the Waratahs won 23-11, after they held a slender 7-6 lead at the break.
The finding that Cheika had not breached the code of conduct – and therefore did not trigger a six-month suspension already hanging over him – did not go down well in New Zealand.
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said he was shocked by the SANZAR finding and it had "opened up a can of worms".
One reporter claimed his action amounted to cheating, while another called for the matter to be reopened – unsatisfied with NSW Waratahs CEO Greg Harris' assertion that Cheika didn't know the game's laws don't allow coaches to approach refs during a game.
Cheika was sanctioned while coaching in Europe for making contact with a referee during a match in 2011.
Asked if he felt like the victim of a smear campaign in New Zealand, Cheika said it was clear he wasn't a popular figure across the ditch.
"Obviously I'm not liked over there or not respected," told the Australian Associated Press.
"But it doesn't change my opinion of them.
"I respect them for their football, they've got good football players, good coaches, and they've got a long list of them.
"That's the way I'll always think. I don't change with the wind."
Cheika said he'd made a conscious effort since being placed on his suspended ban for abusing a sideline cameraman in South Africa – which expires on August 31 – to behave carefully.
"I've taken particular care since that day back in South Africa and I wasn't careless the other day either," he said.
Source: AAP
