Cheika affair excuses don't add up, Sanzar

The Waratahs. Photo / Getty Images

You blokes go on, I'll just go and ask Jaco Peyper how long we can hold the ball in the back of the scrum.

I'll do it nicely, I won't raise my voice or be argumentative.

That version of events, as presented by Super Rugby boss Greg Peters, meant Waratahs coach Michael Cheika escaped with a warning for talking to the referee during halftime in the Blues game.

Sanzar was satisfied there was no malice in the conversation and felt Cheika's approach did not amount to misconduct. If that's so, the questions will multiply.

If there was no misconduct, why were Cheika and Peyper issued with official warnings?

Can every Super coach now ask halftime questions?

Why didn't Sanzar reveal there was an incident and an investigation until the Herald began making inquiries?

Did Cheika find out how long his No8 could hold the ball in the back of the scrum?

How does Sanzar reconcile the 8-1 first-half penalty count against the Waratahs turning into a 9-1 advantage after the halftime chat?

If the incident did not breach the code of conduct, how does Sanzar balance that against the "never engage in disrespectful conduct ... " wording in the code?

By definition any mid-match off-field interaction with referees brings the game into disrepute.

Why wouldn't Cheika answer any questions about the incident?

Inquiries last week after the Waratahs game were not a personal attack on him as he inferred, they were questions about the legitimacy of his actions and whether that was standard practice. It was a diversion for Cheika to suggest he was not liked or respected in New Zealand.

Perhaps he'd like to continue the tone of that conversation with Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, who was "shocked" to see Cheika escape with a warning and wondered whether every coach was now entitled to halftime discussions.

Meanwhile, South African officials are worked up with Sanzar about what they feel are inconsistent judicial decisions.

"Frankly I've just had enough," Saru president Oregan Hoskins told the City Press.

"I feel we as administrators are fighting one fight and do not have the support of our judicial and refereeing panels.

"I am at my wits' end because I am seeing how we are being torn apart on the field of play and by judicial decisions and we are not getting the support we should be getting from these people who are part of our [Sanzar] organisation."

Hoskins acknowledged Sharks players Jean Deysel (seven weeks), Frans Steyn (five weeks) and Bismarck du Plessis (four weeks) received heavy bans while in comparison Australian and New Zealand players got light suspensions.

Liam Gill missed one match for a tip tackle, James Broadhurst got a week for kneeing an opponent and James Horwill a week for a swinging arm which was his second red card this year.

A Chiefs player had kneed Sharks halfback Cobus Reinach and wasn't cited.

Hoskins has convened a meeting of key rugby figures with a background in judicial and disciplinary issues to talk through the problems.