CAPE TOWN - Archbishop Desmond Tutu today congratulated New Zealand rugby skipper Tana Umaga on his newborn child, but jokingly asked him not to play too well this weekend.
The civil rights campaigner and former Nobel Peace Prize winner was at the All Blacks' hotel for the launch of a partnership between the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust and the city of Cape Town.
On his way to the function, Tutu stopped to chat briefly with Umaga and prop Kees Meeuws, and asked about Umaga's daughter Lily-Kate, who was born last weekend.
"Congratulations, well done," he told Umaga. "I think you play well. Don't play too well on Saturday."
Tutu admitted that he had hoped the Wallabies would beat the All Blacks in Sydney last weekend, so the Springboks would remain in the running for the Tri-Nations title.
Umaga replied with a smile: "You have a great chance, but hopefully we'll have something to say about that on Saturday."
Tutu's reponse brought laughter all around: "No, behave yourself."
The All Blacks and the Springboks meet in a Tri-Nations test in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.
A noted campaigner against apartheid during the former white-ruled South Africa, Tutu, 72, is a keen supporter of the Springboks, and has worn the Springbok jersey through the streets of Cape Town.
- NZPA
Rugby: Desmond Tutu asks Umaga not to play too well
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