South Africa have reacted furiously to their treatment by New Zealand as tensions mount ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash in Dunedin.

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

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

De Villiers' appointment in January as the successor to Jake White was cloaked in controversy amid claims it was politically motivated.

New Leicester boss Heyneke Meyer was clear favourite to replace White but De Villiers edged his rival for the post, becoming the Springboks' first black coach.

Even South African Rugby Football Union president Oregan Hoskins admitted at the time that De Villiers was not picked for rugby reasons alone.

Ever since, the 51-year-old's 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 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 in which he described Peter de Villiers, the Springbok coach, as a puppet, among other things," Tshume said in a statement.

"Mr 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 judgement in having the good grace to apologise to Peter de Villiers and to the South African rugby community for the profound offence and hurt he has caused."

South Africa were already reeling from the off-the-ball spear tackle Brad Thorn made on Smit.

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

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

"Yes, I'm angry. I'm really not happy about having to sit in South Africa and watch the Springboks beat the All Blacks in Dunedin.

"One almost gets the idea that anyone who is not from New Zealand does not have same rights as someone who plays for the All Blacks.

"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."

Smit's comments will have plenty of support in England, who have longed complained that the All Blacks are treated more leniently in their own back yard by disciplinary chiefs.

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