Springboks Stung By All Blacks Welcome
Thu 10 Jul, 06:09 PM
[some snippets, full article
here]
South Africa have reacted furiously to their treatment by
New Zealand as tensions mount ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash in Dunedin.
The Springboks - still reeling from the controversial spear tackle that has sidelined skipper John Smit - have been further incensed by comments made by All Black front-row great Craig Dowd.
Dowd dismissed their coach Peter de Villiers as a "puppet" in a radio interview and questioned if he knew anything about rugby.
....But SARU chairman Mpumelelo Tshume has demanded a public apology, raising the temperature of a match full of lingering bad blood from last Saturday.
"SA Rugby has noted with shock and disgust comments made by former All Black Craig Dowd in which he described Peter de Villiers, the Springbok coach, as a puppet, among other things," Tshume said in a statement.
"Mr Dowd's comments are not only deeply and personally offensive to Peter de Villiers and SARU but also comically ill-informed on the affairs of South African rugby.
....
Smit will miss Saturday's Test as well as the clash with
Australia because of a groin injury, which he claimed was caused by the tackle that was punished only with a penalty.
"Just imagine Bakkies Botha doing something similar to Richie McCaw. World rugby would have come to a standstill," Smit told Supersport.
"Yes, I'm angry. I'm really not happy about having to sit in South Africa and watch the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Dunedin.
"One almost gets the idea that anyone who is not from New Zealand does not have same rights as someone who plays for the All Blacks.
"A few seasons ago, Graham Henry asked everyone not to tackle Richie McCaw. Now Richie is injured and Henry is asking everyone not to tackle Dan Carter."
Smit's comments will have plenty of support in
England, who have longed complained that the All Blacks are treated more leniently in their own back yard by disciplinary chiefs.