Dowd's 'puppet' jibe angers SARU
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:57
Criticised: Peter de Villiers has copped some stick in NZ
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers' accusation that the All Blacks used illegal scrummage tactics in last weekend's first Tri-Nations Test won by New Zealand has reverberated at consular level in New Zealand.
According to the website Tri-Nations.com the South African Honorary Consul in New Zealand Gregory Fortuin on Wednesday hit out at former All Black prop Craig Dowd following comments to NewstalkZB and called on him to apologise.
Dowd had questioned the credentials of De Villiers and labeled the coach a puppet.
Fortuin said he found Dowd's personal attack on the Springbok coach offensive.
The website writes that De Villiers was a surprise selection as Springbok coach and that the South African Rugby Union said the appointment was based on transformation.
Dowd told NewstalkZB that if De Villiers knew anything about rugby, he was yet to see it and believed that while the Springboks had some good staff, De Villiers was merely a puppet.
He had little time for Peter de Villiers' assessment of the All Blacks' front row.
Dowd's statement has also moved SA Rugby to release a statement defending the Springbok coach.
And that response came from none other than the chairman of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd, Mpumelelo Tshume, who has called on Dowd to apologise for his negative remarks.
Tshume's statement read as follows: "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.
"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.
"We trust he will show rather better judgement in having the good grace to apologise to Peter de Villiers and to the South African rugby community for the profound offence and hurt he has caused."
SAPA
