Rugby: SA union demands Dowd apology for puppet comment

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has demanded an apology from former All Black Craig Dowd over comments he made about Springboks coach Peter de Villiers.

SA Rugby released a statement last night noting "with shock and disgust" Dowd's description on Wednesday of de Villiers as a "puppet" and questioned his credentials to coach a national team.

De Villiers, 51, was named South Africa's first black coach six months ago. He was a surprise selection by a majority board vote to replace World Cup winning coach Jake White.

He suffered his first loss as coach last Saturday when they went down 8-19 to the All Blacks in Wellington.

In an interview with Newstalk ZB, Dowd said "while the Springboks have some good staff, de Villiers is merely a puppet".

SA Rugby chairman Mpumelelo Tshume was indignant about the remarks from the former All Blacks 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," Tshume said in the statement.

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[chickenfillets74]

What a piece of scum to suggest racism. Yeh that makes perfect sense, an all-black coach being racist. WHAT-A-TOOL!

[Bighairyfart]

de villiers is being very subjective almost fantasist subjective, what dowd said could be said about anyone, whats he saying was he is a puppet, i.e. he's being controlled it doesn't matter for shit in objective terms that hes the first black coach in a majority black country which ironically often has the same amount or less black players than england a country of a minority black population; clearly there is something strange in sa but this will simply fuel the flame

[carl1095]

@kmokaraka Not pointing fingers. I'm stating unequivocally that my country, South Africa, is a racist country. That's gives me the insight to recognize it in yours.

[kmokaraka]

@carl1095 then why are you pointing fingers einstein ?

[carl1095]

@kmokaraka Hey you handsome stud. The majority of SA is also black and we're still a racist country. Go look up what racism is and maybe we can talk. Mwah ;)

[kmokaraka]

@carl1095 no you dumb faggot thats australia....... majority of nz are black so why would they be racist

[shakychar]

@philmartellus  I agree!

[carl1095]

Isn't Craig Dowd a Maori? Nevertheless, I'm S. African and I've also noticed how racist NZ and Australia are.

[philmartellus]

Peter really is a class act, i don't see why he is so maligned in SA. Brings to mind that saying that a prophet is not accepted in his own country. Long may he stay coach of the mighty springboks.

[Onverkrygbare]

Right people, everyone south africa is big in rugby till this bloody clown came in, let me teach you all something now, I am south african, and that is the dumb asses we have to deal with, ohh shit did I just say something racist. Well people south africa rugby will become a joke if that type of dumb asses stay in charge

[thecallan008]

I find it funny how in one interview De Villiers basiclly says we should all go buy too-too's if we complain over Schalk Burgers eye gouge. Then in this interview he is saying discipline is very important in rugby...???

[hustler3925]

peter is a dick head he would sound better if his words came out of his ass...oh wait they do BAHAHAHA DICKHEAD....ALL BLACKS R TO GOOD BITCH