Upset Cheetahs coach sends email to referees boss

Cape Town - Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has sent an email to the PRO14’s referees boss complaining about time wasting from overseas teams.

According to Netwerk24, the Cheetahs believe the European teams employ this tactic in order to combat the altitude when they play in Bloemfontein.

Smith told the Afrikaans publication that he was upset after last Sunday’s 30-26 loss to Munster that Italian referee Marius Mitrea allowed the Irish side to constantly delay play.

The Cheetahs mentor confirmed that he had sent an email to Greg Garner, who is the PRO14 referees boss.

“The email, in which I stipulated my complaints, has been sent. It’s about overseas teams wasting time and the referees allowing it. It’s disruptive if we can’t execute our game plan.”

Smith said he was expecting an answer from the referees boss by next week, as most referees are currently at a World Rugby meeting.

The Cheetahs are struggling in this year’s PRO14, having won just one out of eight games and sit at the bottom of Conference A.

Their next outing is against Italian side Benetton Treviso in Bloemfontein on Saturday, November 24.