Cheika still sweats on swearing probe
Moore retiring
LONDON, Nov 22, (AFP): Australia coach Michael Cheika was left waiting Tuesday to find out if he will be punished for his conduct during the Wallabies’ 30-6 defeat by England last week, as officials confirmed a disciplinary probe was still ongoing.
Cheika was infuriated by several decisions that went against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday and when a Michael Hooper try was disallowed in the first half, he appeared to mouth an expletive in reference to the ruling made by referee Ben O’Keeffe.
When asked during a broadcast interview if he had actually mouthed an expletive and called New Zealand’s O’Keeffe a “cheat”, Cheika ended the interview.
Earlier, Cheika twice walked down the steps from the coaches’ box to the touchline to remonstrate with officials. He also received abuse from supporters that he described as a “gobful” that was “not pleasant” and at one point had a verbal exchange with a fan.
Autumn international disciplinary officials launched an investigation on Monday and on Tuesday they said their inquiries had yet to be completed.
Hooker Stephen Moore says he will retire from playing rugby after Australia’s final test of the season against Scotland on Saturday.
Rugby Australia says in a statement on Wednesday that Moore originally planned to play one last season with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby, but will retire after the Murrayfield match.
Moore says, “I’d started planning for life after rugby since announcing my retirement from the international game back in July, and the opportunity that I was exploring materialized probably six months earlier than I had expected.”
Moore, who has played 128 tests, the second-most for Australia behind George Gregan’s 139, made his test debut against Samoa in June 2005. He represented Australia at three Rugby World Cups, including captaining Australia to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.
The 34-year old Moore was first named Wallabies captain in June 2014.
Nathan Hughes has been ruled out of England’s concluding November international against Samoa with a knee injury.
The Fiji-born No. 8 will miss Saturday’s match at Twickenham after suffering bone bruising in his knee joint and has returned to his club, Wasps, for rehabilitation treatment that could last up to four weeks, the Rugby Football Union announced Tuesday.
Meanwhile a further eight players have been released back to their clubs by England coach Eddie Jones, including Bath backs Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph.