Soweto - All Black captain Richie McCaw admitted on Sunday that the bruise below his left eye came from team-mate Owen Franks and not a Springbok.
Quizzed about the facial swelling after a 32-16 Rugby Championship triumph over South Africa at Soccer City, the 112-cap New Zealand flanker said tighthead prop Franks was responsible.
"It was friendly fire I'm afraid. I have Owen Franks to thank for this one," he admitted after New Zealand completed the six-round southern hemisphere championship with six victories.
Former South Africa skipper Corné Krige went one better than Franks in 2002 when a punch he aimed at an England player at Twickenham missed the target and flattened team-mate André Pretorius instead during a 53-3 loss.