Boks on Tour
SA Embassy shifts blame
2009-11-17 07:45
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Paris - South Africa's Embassy in Paris has denied any role in choosing the singer who botched the national anthem before the Springboks' Test against France in Toulouse.
VIDEO: Botched South African anthem
GALLERY: France vs South Africa South Africa's coach and players were furious as the singer Ras Dumisani, who is South African, botched the words and struggled to reach the right notes before the Springboks' 20-13 loss on Friday.
Responding to media reports that it recommended Dumisani to the French rugby federation, the embassy said it was not involved in the decision to choose Dumisani.
"The Embassy had no subsequent dealings with any of the parties and rejects all claims that the embassy chose or imposed the singer," the embassy said in a statement. "This was entirely the responsibility of the hosts."
After the defeat, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, lock Victor Matfield and flyhalf Morne Steyn all expressed their disappointment at the rendition of their anthem.
In a statement on Monday, South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins said his organisation was "shocked and horrified" and wanted explanations from their French counterparts.
The South African embassy in Paris was contacted by the French rugby union in September for the names of singers living in France who could sing the anthem, and said it passed on the number for an agent of the only singer they had listed.
"This was not a recommendation from the embassy since the embassy had no previous exposure to his performances nor is he a renowned performer," the statement continued.
