Wallabies star Nic White heckled at airport as South Africa takes aim at Adelaide theatrics
One of South Africa's greatest players has accused Wallabies halfback Nic White of killing "a little piece of rugby's soul" with his theatrics in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Wallabies produced their best performance of the season by beating the world champions 25-17, with the final scoreline flattering the Springboks after two late consolation tries.
But it was not only the flat performance from their heroes that enraged the South African rugby community.
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The game's most talked about incident was White's "Oscar" moment, falling to the Adelaide Oval turf in apparent pain after copping an inadvertent slap in the face from Springboks rival Faf de Klerk.
De Klerk could only laugh after receiving what Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney described as \
Rugby World Cup winning former Springboks captain John Smit was less amused.
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"Yellow 9 just killed a little piece of rugby's soul today," the highly respected Smit tweeted.
Another World Cup winner, former Springboks five-eighth Butch James, tore into White on SuperSport's TV broadcast.
"I think it's an absolute disgrace to the game of rugby that a player can behave like that," James said of White.
Faf de Klerk of the Springboks receives a yellow card. Getty
"For me, he deserved the yellow card there and he should be in the sin bin…
"Absolutely nothing. He makes contact with him on the face. If he carries on, passes the ball, plays on – nothing, not even a penalty is going to occur. For me, he has milked that."
Prominent South African rugby journalist Brendan Nel was also scathing.
Nic White of the Wallabies at Adelaide Oval. Getty
"Nic White's Oscar may be celebrated by those who don't like the Boks," Nel wrote.
"But it's a poor advert for the game. This isn't football. Theatrics may win you a penalty but they are a blight on the game. It is an embarrassment."
Another leading South African rugby writer, Mark Keohane, described White's actions as his "most embarrassing moment as a professional."
And writing in The South African, James Richardson went even harder, taking aim at both White and the referee.
"Paul Williams of New Zealand has brought shame onto the game of rugby with one of the worst officiating displays in modern rugby," Richardson fumed.
"Williams' efforts were either criminally incompetent or evidence of bias. On several occasions Australia got a massive lift from a dodgy call from the Kiwi whistle-blower.
"Williams bought into play acting from Australia scrumhalf Nic White whose actions have no place in the sport at all. Paul Williams and Nic White bring the game into disrepute."
White, one of the most popular Wallabies players, could see the funny side of things, grinning at the airport as he was heckled by a group of South African fans.
"Nic White you're alive! We thought you weren't going to make it! I thought you were in the ICU my bro!" one yelled.
Another chimed in with a simple football taunt.
"Manchester United!"
Australia and South Africa resume hostilities at Sydney's new Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
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