Now Dowd brands de Villiers a "puppet"
July 10, 2008 - 3:56pm
Story by: ARU
The War of words between the Springboks and All Blacks hit a new low today with former All Blacks prop Craig Dowd branding South African Head Coach Peter de Villiers as a “puppet” and saying if De Villiers knew anything about Rugby,“he was yet to see it.”
De Villiers was a surprise selection as Springbok coach following the departure of Rugby World Cup winning coach Jake White. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) said after the appointment that the appointment was based on transformation.
At the time Heyneke Meyer was the favourite to get the job after winning the Super 14 with the Bulls and he has now moved to England to coach the Leicester Tigers.
Dowd told New Zealand radio station, NewstalkZB, that if de Villiers knows anything about Rugby, he is yet to see it and believes that while the Springboks have some good staff, de Villiers is merely a puppet.
Dowd also has little time for Peter de Villiers' assessment of the All Blacks' front row.
The new Springboks coach has deemed the All Blacks' scrummaging techniques during the opening Tri-Nations test to be illegal.
Dowd has laughed off the suggestion, saying de Villiers knows nothing about the front row.
The comments have continued the off-field furore leading in to what shapes as a spiteful Tri-Nations clash between the two countries this Saturday in Dunedin, ignited when injured Boks captain John Smit claimed New Zealand are given “preferential treatment” in terms of punishing foul play.
The South African Honorary Consul in New Zealand Gregory Fortuin hit out at Dowd following his comments and called on him to apologise.
Fortuin said he found Dowd’s personal attack on the Springbok coach offensive.
Later SARU issued a statement where they “noted with shock and disgust comments made by” Dowd and said Dowd’s remarks were “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 (Dowd) will show rather better judgement in having the good grace to apologise to Peter de Villiers” said Mpumelelo Tshume, Chairman of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd (the professional arm of SARU), “and to the South African Rugby community for the profound offence and hurt he has caused.”
