South Africa coach Peter de Villiers and South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins issued a joint statement on Monday to say they did not condone foul play such as Schalk Burger's eye-gouge on Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test in Pretoria.
Burger was yellow-carded by Christophe Berdos in the first minute of the brutal clash in Pretoria and subsequently cited and banned for eight weeks.
In the aftermath of the game, de Villiers defended Burger but has softened his stance after Lions coach Ian McGeechan said he was 'very disappointed' with his counterpart's reaction.
“We would like to apologise to the rugby community for the erroneous impression that acts of foul play are in any way condoned by South African rugby,” said Mr Hoskins. “That has never been the case and is not now, and we support strong action by rugby authorities when such acts occur.
“Rugby is a physical game and a hard game but it is a game that rightly prides itself on good sportsmanship and we as SARU categorically condemn any such action. SARU fully supports any action that the IRB feels appropriate to stamp out eye gouging in the game.”
Mr de Villiers added that as Springbok coach he stood against play that was not in the spirit of the game. “Eye-gouging is something that we as a team will never be part of,” he said. “The same applies to biting, head-butting, spear tackling or any other foul play that doesn’t belong in the game.
“My comments on Saturday were based on what I know of Schalk Burger as a player and not on what occurred. It was never my intention to suggest that I condone foul play - that is the last thing I would ever do and I apologise for creating any other impression.”
However, De Villier's stance in the press release issued by SA Rugby seemed to differ from a press conference he gave on Monday, in which he said "Rugby is a contact sport - but so is dancing. So guys who can't take it - make the decision."
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