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The South African rugby board has demanded an apology from former All Black Craig Dowd over comments he made on radio about the current Springbok coach.
SA Rugby said they noted "with shock and disgust" Dowd's description of Peter de Villiers as a "puppet", among other things.
De Villiers was a surprise selection as Springbok coach following the departure of World Cup winning coach Jake White.
Newstalk ZB reported Dowd said "if de Villiers knows anything about rugby, he (Dowd) is yet to see it" and he believed that "while the Springboks have some good staff, de Villiers is merely a puppet".
South African rugby officials are indignant about the on-air remarks from the former prop.
"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", SA Rugby chairman Mpumelelo Tshume said in a statement.
"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", Mr Tshume concluded.
Yesterday South African Honorary Consul Gregory Fortuin called on Dowd to apologise.
Fortuin said he had the utmost respect for Dowd's achievements and ability as an All Black prop, but found his personal attack on the Springbok coach "offensive".
Dowd is a veteran of 60 All Black tests, between 1993 and 2000.
- NZHERALD STAFF
