Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has questioned whether former All Blacks prop Craig Dowd is racist and says racism is rife in New Zealand.

"In South Africa it's a big thing racism, but in other countries, especially here and Australia, it's big too, really big you know," de Villiers said in Dunedin yesterday.

He was reacting to Dowd's comment on radio this week that "while the Springboks have some good staff, de Villiers is merely a puppet".

De Villiers is the first black coach of the South African team.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has called for Dowd to apologise for for what it said were shocking and disgusting comments.

De Villiers, speaking ahead of tonight's Tri Nations Test against the All Blacks at Carisbrook, was surprised Dowd had said what he did.

"I don't know Craig Dowd. The closest I've got to him is my TV in my sitting room. I don't know if he's ever seen me or knows me.

"It's quite stupid to make a call like that. I don't know what is his agenda, if it is racism or not."

Dowd said yesterday he didn't want to get into a slagging match with de Villiers but apologised for offending him.

"I'm sorry he took what I said personally. I'm sorry if I hurt his feelings. Apart from also saying I'm not a racist, what else can I do?"

De Villiers, 51, was a surprise choice to replace World Cup winning coach Jake White as there were several others with superior coaching credentials.

When he was named Springbok coach in January, SARU president Oregan Hoskins virtually admitted de Villiers' appointment was political.

"We have made the appointment and taken into account the issue of transformation when we made it. I don't think that tarnishes Peter, I'm just being honest with our country."

De Villiers suffered his first loss as coach last Saturday when they went down 8-19 to the All Blacks in Wellington.

SA Rugby chairman Mpumelelo Tshume said Dowd's suggestion de Villiers was a puppet were "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 African honorary consul Gregory Fortuin also called on Dowd to apologise yesterday.

Fortuin said he had the utmost respect for Dowd's achievements and ability as an All Black prop, but found his personal attack on the Springbok coach "offensive".

Race relations conciliator Joris de Bres said if Dowd had apologised for any offence caused, and that was satisfactory to Mr de Villiers, that should be the end of it. If it wasn't then it should be taken up with the rugby union.

The Dominion Post