The Lions have renewed their attack on Peter de Villiers for claiming that eye-gouging was just part of rugby with Brian O'Driscoll saying the Springboks coach brought the game into disrepute and coach Graham Rowntree describing his words as crass, pathetic and ridiculous.
The often outspoken De Villiers defended flank forward Schalk Burger for eye-gouging Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald only 32 seconds into Saturday's second test at Pretoria, where his team won 28-25 to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead into the final game at Ellis Park.
He said after the game it was an accepted part of rugby. Although he later apologized and Burger received an eight-week ban, the Lions remain scathing in their criticism.
"When I heard those comments yesterday I wondered how someone can get away with something like that," said O'Driscoll, a former Lions captain who misses Saturday's third test because he was concussed after a clash of heads at Loftus Versfeld.
"Irrespective of any apology, I find it an absolute disgrace that a coach of a national team can make comments as he did about gouging being part of the game."
Both O'Driscoll and Rowntree, the Lions front row coach, said De Villiers' words would turn potential young stars away from rugby.
"Someone made a really good point to me that kids or parents watching an interview like that, questioning whether they should have their kid play rugby or soccer, that's their decision made right there. To hear a national coach saying in any shape or form, gouging is acceptable in the modern-day game is despicable," Ireland captain O'Driscoll said.
"I find that mind-boggling that you can have a national team coach saying something like that. Essentially, it brought the game into disrepute."
Rowntree stressed the eye-gouging incident had been dealt with through the disciplinary procedure. But he condemned De Villiers words and said he believed that they were being investigated.
"I have got to tread very carefully here because I can get very emotional," the former England prop said. "It's completely out of order. But I agree with Dricho (O'Driscoll). I think it was a crass comment, pathetic really and I'm glad he's had to withdraw it and indeed is being investigated a bit further, so I understand.
"There's no place in the game for gouging and it's ridiculous what he said. For any young aspiring player or parents of young players watching that game and the national coach almost saying it's OK, then it's ridiculous."
A naturally physical sport, rugby has always trodden a fine line between what is acceptable and what is foul play or downright violence. The unofficial codes of conduct between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams have several notable differences.
The International Rugby Board said Wednesday it will review and reinforce its disciplinary policy to eradicate the "heinous" act of eye-gouging.
Two days after his eye-gouging remarks, De Villiers said that, if rugby's rulemakers took away much of the physical side, which was an integral part of the game, it would be little more like ballet.
"Why don't we all go to the nearest ballet shop, get some nice tutus and get some great dancing going on," he said. "No eye-gouging, no tackling, no nothing. Then enjoy."
After Saturday's thrilling and almost brutally physical game, O'Driscoll and prop forwards Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones were ruled out of the final test but center Jamie Roberts, winger Tommy Bowe and flyhalf Ronan O'Gara are expected to be fit.
