Cheika 'supports' Van der Linde appeal
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:38
The Springbok team has received support from an unexpected source in their struggle to have prop CJ van der Linde's four-week ban overturned.
South Africa said on Tuesday they will consider appealing against the suspension handed out to the Bok prop. Van der Linde, who was cleared on a charge of striking Australian scrumhalf Sam Cordingley with his head in the Boks' 15-27 Tri-Nations loss last Saturday, was suspended until September 22 after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of dangerously entering a ruck.
While the Bok management are still hoping to have him available for the return Test against the Wallabies, in Johannesburg this coming Saturday, his Irish club Leinster have also expressed hope that the ban would be overturned.
Should the ban stand Van der Linde, who is schedule to fly out to Ireland after Saturday's Test, would be sidelined from Leinster's first three Magners League games.
Van der Linde would then miss Leinster's games away to Cardiff and at home to Edinburgh and the Ospreys. He would be eligible to return for the game at home to Munster on Sunday, September 28, and the visit to Connacht a week later, before the opening Heineken European Cup games away to Edinburgh and at home to Wasps.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika supported Bok coach Peter de Villiers in expressing his "disappointment" with the four-week ban.
"He [Van der Linde] will still arrive [next week], but it will affect his play date. It [the ban] seems a bit harsh," Cheika told The Irish Times.
"Obviously we'd be fairly keen for that [the appeal] to happen, even if it took a week or two off. He himself is so keen to get over."
Wallaby flank Rocky Elsom, who was banned for one week for foul play, is also set to join Leinster - after the completion of the Tri-Nations.
Elsom is not due to arrive at Donnybrook, Dublin, until September 15, two days after the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks in Brisbane.
While Cheika acknowledges that it could have been worse, his concern has been magnified by an injury to Leinster's other recognised tighthead, Stanley Wright (Leinster's only ever-present last season and arguably their player of the season), in the opening minutes of their 19-15 win away to Treviso last Saturday.
With Cian Healy and Ronnie McCormack loosehead props, Leinster's only other recognised tighthead is Stephen Knoop.
