Fiji coach John McKee has returned serve at Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika, staunchly defending his team’s referral of Reece Hodge for a Rugby World Cup citing.
McKee also questioned Cheika’s version of the spirit of rugby a day after the Australian coach slammed him for going “behind his back” which has ultimately landed winger Hodge a date with the World Cup judiciary.
“Maybe Michael Cheika’s views of what’s within the spirit of the game are slightly different to some other people, but it’s not up to me to decide what exactly he meant by that comment,” McKee said.
Cheika was incensed that New Zealander McKee, a former Australian age group assistant coach, had never told him he planned to refer Hodge when the pair spoke convivially after fulltime of Saturday’s pool match in Sapporo.
Hodge’s tackle denied Fiji a potential try and left forward Peceli Yato concussed. Yato had to sit out the last 55 minutes of the game and McKee confirmed the flanker has also been ruled out of Wednesday’s match against Uruguay in Kamaishi.
McKee had no regret at referring Hodge’s tackle.
“From our side, we lost a player who was nearly the most influential player on the park … for the rest of the game, and because of the head injury he can’t play in this game either.”
McKee said all players and coaches are aware of World Rugby guidelines around the citing process.
Match citing officers are entitled to take an incident further if he believes it has been missed by the four matchday officials.
Cheika said on Monday he had never referred an incident to a citing official in his life and was disappointed with how McKee went about it.
“I don’t find the way that they brought that (referral) in the spirit of the game at all, which is something you know from Fiji,” Cheika said.
“I’d prefer that they come up to me and get upset with me if they’re really upset about it, not to just talk to me in that nice, friendly chitty-chat way and then go behind your back and put in a referral.”
Hodge’s judicial hearing is on Wednesday.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Agree.
Crustymtb
Guest
All the good coaches are kiwis...
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Do we Rebellion… please tell or is it too steeped in bigotry?
Rebellion
Guest
You are such a predictable hypocrite Chivas, it just never ceases to amuse me. I’ve simply lost count of the number of times you’ve made snide & denigrating remarks about Australians in general. We both know where this bitterness stems from don’t we :laughing:
Brian Cook
Guest
Didn't know McKee was a kiwi. All makes sense now. Went well against Uruguay today. Hopefully there's a few bad tackles there too!
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Thanks Paulo.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Well put.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Please no, I don’t think I could take it.
Tycoch22
Roar Rookie
Greg Martin is only marginally more coherent than Kearns
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Chivas, Riccardo and Mr Box, I would offer here a correction to Sandbox’s blunt slur. There is a difference in manners between the two trans-Tasman cultures. We are seen from the east as brash, loud and cocky, at our worst like 25 million Cheikas at the cricket. At our best we can be confident, fair and assertive. NZ culture looks from our side more quiet and timid, perhaps a bit more sneaky (ala Reado around the neck). Sometimes I’ve noted that NZers may talk about me negatively (I know, I know, you are wondering what negatives in me they could possibly see) behind my back. NZers being quieter are more reserved but sometimes vent when the coast is clear. At their best they are salt of the earth, quiet, humble, afraid of no one heroes. But they have other days. And sometimes critiquing a NZer is more trouble than tap dancing with a bear. They don’t do criticism well. That said I think Cheika, Sandbox and Gloria are out of line on McKee.
Craig
Guest
Well Fiji actually needs Wallabies do beat Wales now - this spiteful referral may turn out to be a huge own-goal.
Rhyno
Roar Rookie
4 more years I say
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I had read that Cheika will be coaching the Tahs next year. If that is the case, he won't be coaching the Wallabies.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Sandbox I’d say you are full of it with regards to your comment… a mere statement of fact. There is a level of politeness and professionalism which is expected of everybody. The fact you lack it, doesn’t indicate you have a higher degree of integrity than someone else who has some manners. And suggesting a whole nation is fake is actually just your opinion and not fact, no matter how rusted on you are to your opinions. Anyway, have at it.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Hahaha you got me with that 'Elite Match Officials'' .....
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
4 years and counting.... down..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Who cares what cheika says, he is a tool. And its unfortunate he is in charge of a good group of athletes..
SandBox
Roar Guru
I’d suggest a NZ’er pretending to be nice to an Australian, is a mere statement of fact. The charm offensive might work on other countries, but we know you better. No emotion in this statement, just the way it is, and Cheika is naive if he hasn’t worked NZ’ers out by now
Stu B.
Guest
Sorry to disapoint you Richie but another misrepresentation I'm probably more Australian than you arebut couldn't stand by on the dreadlock thing.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Agree Ken... Maybe plain ignorant and uncalled for would have been better? It is one thing to share an opinion or pull someone up on something or argue a case... but just denigrating people or shear nastiness towards an entire nation is pretty ordinary.