Tri-Nations
SARU: De Villiers probe means 'war'
Scrum.com
August 4, 2010
Springboks captain John Smit and coach Peter de Villiers, South Africa training session, Brisbane Grammar School, Brisbane, Australia, July 20, 2010
Peter de Villiers chats to Springbok captain John Smit © Getty Images
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SARU president Oregan Hoskins has declared "war" against Australia and New Zealand as the circus surrounding Springboks coach Peter De Villiers and his recent conspiracy theory claims rolls on.

De Villiers will face a SANZAR hearing on Friday to explain his comments to Australian television claiming the All Blacks had been assisted in their Tri-Nations victories over the Springboks to help build support for next year's World Cup.

SARU has taken offence to the follow up against De Villiers and Hoskins said it will "defend him to the hilt". Hoskins told South African media he sees the de Villiers misconduct hearing as a "declaration of war by Australia and New Zealand against South Africa".

Meanwhile, De Villiers has labelled himself a "clown" in a fan Q&A after SARU last month demanded an on air apology from Fox Sports panelist Brendan Cannon after the former Wallaby had used the same word to describe the coach after the conspiracy theory interview aired on the Rugby Club.

In response to a question about the criticism he receives, De Villiers, whose side has lost all three of their Tri-Nations games this season, concluded: ''As for the criticism, I have had it since before day one! But it goes with the territory - a winning Bok coach is a superman; a losing Bok coach is a clown, I've learnt to take both with a pinch of salt.''

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