Angry fans rally to wild man

By AINSLEY THOMSON and AGENCIES

The rugby fan who attacked Irish referee David McHugh has been offered free advice from some South African lawyers and help to pay his bail.

One South African Sunday newspaper was inundated with calls of support for Pieter van Zyl, the thickset 43-year-old who dislocated McHugh's shoulder when he tackled him midway through Sunday morning's Tri-Nations test in Durban.

People called the paper offering to pay his 3000 rand ($667) bail.

Another newspaper, the Natal Witness, reports that three lawyers have offered van Zyl - who has been charged with assault, grievous bodily harm and trespass - their legal services free.

McHugh has announced that he intends to sue.

Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli, speaking on behalf of McHugh, who was still shaken, said: "I know Dave is seeking legal advice. He intends to sue the perpetrator. An individual can't take out his frustrations on another individual in that way. We need to look at technology to make the game more professional."

The support for van Zyl comes from rugby fans who believe South Africa has been the victim of some unfair refereeing decisions.

McHugh angered South Africans during Sunday's game by disallowing a Breyton Paulse try after ruling that there was obstruction in the buildup. Earlier, he awarded the All Blacks a penalty try after a high tackle.

Van Zyl's sister, who lives in Durban and does not want to be named, said three-quarters of the fans at Kings Park supported what her brother had done.

"The ref was biased," she said. "A hell of a lot of South Africans think it is a good thing. It's just unfortunate it was my brother who did it."

On the official South African rugby website, a number of fans have posted messages praising van Zyl.

One reads: "Vote Pieter van Zyl for President."

Another fan claims international referees are prejudiced and believe South Africans are "undisciplined, intellectually inferior, violent, reckless racists".

The fan says it was inevitable someone would attack the referee.

However, most messages on the site, and opinion of most South Africans, appears to be that van Zyl's actions were unacceptable and have tarnished the country's reputation.

Rian Oberholzer, managing director of SA Rugby, said the incident had done South Africa's image serious harm.

"That guy hurt us so badly. It just reinforces the image that people have of South African supporters being boorish brandy and coke drinkers," he told the Cape Times.

Oberholzer said that stereotype was not typical of Springbok supporters. "Our supporters are highly intelligent people who understand the game very well. It takes one idiot to destroy all of it."

Attention is now focused on ensuring the safety of New Zealand referee Paddy O'Brien during the Springboks-Wallabies Tri-Nations rugby test at Ellis Park, in Johannesburg, on Sunday (NZ time).