The South African Rugby Union (Saru) moved swiftly to shift blame, following Springbok utility back Frans Steyn’s claims that Bok coach Peter de Villiers has been disrespectful.

Steyn on Friday said he is unlikely to play for South Africa again while Peter de Villiers is coach and accused him of being ‘disrespectful’ towards his club Racing Metro, as well as the player himself.

Steyn, speaking ahead of Racing’s Round Eight Top 14 match against Biarritz on Saturday, revealed that De Villiers had again failed to turn up for a meeting with the French club and Steyn himself to resolve the ongoing club-versus-country dispute.

However, in a media release on Saturday Saru claimed that Racing Metro is to blame for the misunderstanding and suggested that the French club did not respond to correspondence from Saru.

The Saru statement in full:

“Springbok management European visit

“The South African Rugby Union would like to advise media of the facts around the planned visit of Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and Andy Marinos, national teams manager, to three European-based rugby clubs during September.
* The visits were scheduled to coincide with an IRB Rugby Conference, which both De Villiers and Marinos were due to attend.
* Visits were planned to Bath (England), Ulster (Northern Ireland) and Racing Metro (France). The visit to Paris was planned for Wednesday and Thursday, 29-30 September.
* Following the cancellation of the IRB Conference, all three clubs were advised that the visits would be postponed.  Ulster and Bath acknowledged the advice, Racing Metro did not. Several Racing personnel – including coach Pierre Berbizier – were included in the advisory email.
* SARU did not contact any of the three players directly as the appropriate protocol is to communicate through a player’s club.

“SARU trusts that this clarifies any misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the facts as they related to the planned visit to Racing Metro.”