RUGBY TRI-NATIONS:SOUTH AFRICA have reacted furiously to their treatment by New Zealand as tensions mount ahead of tomorrow's Tri-Nations clash in Dunedin.

The Springboks - still reeling from the controversial spear tackle that sidelined skipper John Smit - have been further incensed by comments made by the All Black frontrow great Craig Dowd.

In a radio interview Dowd dismissed their coach Peter de Villiers as a "puppet" and questioned if he knew anything about rugby.

The appointment in January of the 51-year-old De Villiers - the Springboks' first black coach - was cloaked in controversy, and his succession has been dogged by doubts over whether he is really in charge or merely a politically acceptable front for assistant coaches Gary Gold and Dick Muir.

Dowd waded into the argument after New Zealand's 19-8 victory in the Tri-Nations opener, making his "puppet" claim.

But South African Rugby Union (Saru) chairman Mpumelelo Tshume has demanded a public apology, raising the temperature of a match full of lingering bad blood from last Saturday.

"SA Rugby has noted with shock and disgust comments made by former All Black Craig Dowd," Tshume said. "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. We trust he will show rather better judgment in having the good grace to apologise to Peter de Villiers and to the South African rugby community."

Smit will miss tomorrow's Test as well as the clash with Australia because of a groin injury, which he claimed was caused by the tackle that earned only a penalty.

"Just imagine Bakkies Botha doing something similar to Richie McCaw. World rugby would have come to a standstill," Smit said.

"One almost gets the idea that anyone who is not from New Zealand does not have same rights . . . A few seasons ago, Graham Henry asked everyone not to tackle Richie McCaw. Now Richie is injured and Henry is asking everyone not to tackle Dan Carter."