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Div dodges controversy

Stephen Nell

Cardiff – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is no stranger to controversy, but appears to be taking care not to venture into that territory.

On Tuesday, the Bok coach sidestepped a question on why ticket sales for Saturday’s test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium might be so slow.

“If you had been in my shoes for the past three months and you think there was space for anything but rugby in this head, then you are wrong. I am now focusing on rugby and rugby only,” said De Villiers.

“If this team can get away with a good performance and a nice win, then I have achieved everything I want to. It’s always nice to play in front of a good crowd, but 50 people can also make a hell of a noise. I hope half the crowd there will be wearing green jerseys.”

With De Villiers having apparently decided to leave the spreading of Bible verses at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff to the Gideons, the tour’s first storm in a teacup came through Bryan Habana via Twitter.

Habana appeared to take offence at a rugby fan who tweeted “time to retire, bud” at him “How about you take your negativity elsewhere. And I’m not your bud!” was the response from Habana to “burgertmull”.

Springbok spokesperson Andy Colquhoun said that Habana had not broken the rules on social media and that the exchange was not viewed as a problem.

“There are guidelines on social media interaction. It comes down to not doing anything that brings the game into disrepute. He did not say anything offensive and it’s not anything to get excited about,” said Colquhoun.

If Habana scores a try on Saturday, he will become the lone record-holder of most test tries for the Boks. He shares the record of 38 with Joost van der Westhuizen.
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