Last Updated: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:09
Brian O'Driscoll says South Africa coach Peter de Villiers' initial stance over Schalk Burger's gouging offence was a 'disgrace'.
The Ireland centre, who will miss the British and Irish Lions' third and final Test against the Springboks this coming Saturday due to concussion suffered in the 28-25 second Test defeat, was fuming when De Villiers denied Burger had done anything wrong in the clash in Pretoria.
O'Driscoll said: "To hear the South Africa coach talk about gouging being part of the game was semi-repulsive.
"I just find it appalling. I truly find it a disgrace," he added.
De Villiers has since made a complete U-turn and issued an apology after Burger was found guilty of "making contact with the face in the eye area" of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald and handed an eight-week ban.
Despite his climbown, O'Driscoll feels the damage has already been done by his original opinion.
He added: "When you think about a situation where a parent wonders about whether their child should play rugby or soccer, and you hear comments from a national team coach of that sort - and regardless of the apology he may have submitted - it's essentially bringing the game into disrepute.
"We're trying to promote the game, and yet you hear comments like that."