Former All Black and Cats coach Laurie Mains says it is a travesty that Andre Vos was axed as Springbok captain and replaced by Bob Skinstad.

Mains, who is back in New Zealand after a two-year stint with the Lions and the Cats, added he made an error of judgement by not appointing Vos as the captain in the Cats last three Super 12 games.

According to Beeld Mains was furious and disturbed when he heard that Vos was relieved of the Springbok captaincy. "I think they were looking for a scapegoat and excuses for the Springboks bad performances. Vos had to pay the price. If they knew about these things, why was he appointed last year and this year as captain," asked Mains.

"There is nobody in South Africa who commands more respect from the players than Andre Vos. He is an excellent captain with a very good rugby brain."

Rumours surfaced this week that one of the reasons for Vos' axing was the fact that he stutters and that it gets worse when he is tired. Earlier this week reports also suggested that it is also the reason why Mains didn't appoint Vos as Cats captain and instead opted for Rassie Erasmus.

"I am totally flabbergasted about the story that I didn't make Andre captain of the Cats because he stutters. It is absolute rubbish. That story is a fabrication. I am stunned.

"Andre was my choice as captain. He is an outstanding leader, but because he was already captain of the Springboks and the Lions I thought it would have been unfair to him to add the extra pressure of leading the Cats," said Mains.

He added he made a mistake by not giving the captaincy to Vos after he led the Cats to victories over the Blues and the Crusaders after Erasmus got injured and asked to be relieved of the captaincy. "I was wrong not to retain him as captain, because we've lost our last three games."