SOWETO – All Blacks captain Richie McCaw admitted yesterday that the bruise below his left eye came from teammate Owen Franks and not a Springbok.
Report by Reuters Quizzed about the facial swelling after a 32-16 Rugby Championship triumph over South Africa at Soccer City, the 112-cap New Zealand flanker said tighthead prop Franks was responsible.
“It was friendly fire I’m afraid. I have Owen Franks to thank for this one,” he admitted after New Zealand completed the six-round southern hemisphere championship with six victories.
Former South Africa skipper Corne Krige went one better than Franks in 2002 when a punch he aimed at an England player at Twickenham missed the target and flattened teammate André Pretorius instead during a 53-3 loss.