Crowd call for ref basher van Zyl to do an encore

PRETORIA - The South African crowd became so desperate during yesterday's record loss to the All Blacks that they called on referee-basher Pieter van Zyl to help their cause.

Midway through the second spell, the Springboks had conceded six second-half penalties to New Zealand's none.

That left Irish referee Alain Rolland the centre of much vitriol as the visitors took control of the test.

Pockets of the crowd chanted, "Pete van Zyl, Pete van Zyl" - the name of the spectator who burst on to Kings Park, Durban, in the equivalent test last year and dislocated the shoulder of Irish referee David McHugh in an ugly attack.

Van Zyl received a life ban but was reputed to have been among the crowd at Loftus Versfeld yesterday. Despite the chants, he decided not to appease the angry, largely Afrikaan supporters.

The 52,000-strong crowd did not disappoint in giving the All Blacks a hostile reception.

But as the match wore on, their anger turned on the home side via bursts of criticism directed at individual players.

Surprisingly, they applauded one of Carlos Spencer's successful kicks at goal, although the cheers were noticeably louder when he missed.

- NZPA