Former Sharks rugby coach Kevin Putt has backtracked over his remarks that Springbok rugby player Victor Matfield wears a concealed steel plate during matches, The Star newspaper reported on Friday.
It quoted Putt as saying he was horrified at the rumpus he had ”accidentally” caused.
”Quite rightly, I am the villain of the piece,” Putt said.
Earlier in the week, he said on New Zealand television that Matfield wore a steel guard under an arm bandage.
Putt suggested this explained why All Blacks scrumhalf Byron Kelleher was knocked out when Matfield tackled him in last Saturday’s Tri-Nations rugby match.
The Star reported that Putt had issued an unconditional apology to Matfield.
Putt explained: ”I had been on this rugby show giving my opinion on the Bok victory. When asked about the Kelleher incident, I suggested the tackle was not late.
”When pressed, I suggested that if they were to look for any fault the only question would be about the steel plate in his arm.
”This was a gaffe by me because I had meant to say ‘fibre-glass’, not steel, which he wears for projection for an old injury.
”Thankfully, it was immediately dismissed as laughable by both the Boks and Kiwis and quite rightly, the only person with egg on their face is me. Apologies again.” – Sapa