BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA // Peter de Villiers, the South Africa coach, has implied that his Springboks could be the victims of a conspiracy designed to bolster the World Cup in New Zealand next year. De Villiers has questioned the interpretations made by two Irish referees in the Springboks' two losses to the All Blacks in New Zealand in the Tri Nations. The South African Rugby Union has asked its legal representative to get an explanation for what they consider inconsistent decision-making.
"I've got my own observations about the last two Tests, and maybe I can't say it in public, but we do have a World Cup in New Zealand next year and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people to the games next year," De Villiers said yesterday. The disgruntled coach has questioned how South African players could be sin-binned for infringements at the breakdown in both losses to New Zealand, yet Richie McCaw, the All Blacks captain, was penalised and cautioned for infringements at the breakdown and stay on the field.
He said the Springboks, the world champions, were playing by the same rules they had encountered in the Super 14 club competition - in which two South African teams reached the final - and was dismayed that the interpretations could be vastly different. De Villiers earlier suggested his team might have to be "street smart", to get around the rule interpretations in tomorrow's match against Australia.
Another Irishman, George Clancy, will control South Africa's match against Australia, their third of the Tri Nations. Victor Matfield, the Springboks vice captain, said South Africa needed to adapt to the law interpretations. "It's just doing stupid things out of our character that we have to cut out at the moment," he said. "It's just one of many areas South Africa must improve to keep their title defence alive.
* AP