Krige plays down Johnson comments

SPRINGBOKS captain Corne Krige admits he called England skipper Martin Johnson a dirty player — but denies this was designed to stir up trouble ahead of the two nations’ pool C clash.

The 1995 World Cup winners arrived in Perth yesterday and were greeted by dozens of supporters.

Krige said the comments about his England opposite were made off the record at the end of a long interview with a South African publication and he hadn't expected to be quoted.