CORNE KRIGE, the former South Africa captain who now plays for Northampton, has launched a harsh attack on the club and also on past and present Northampton players. Krige, an unpopular figure in English rugby since he led South Africa in a violent encounter against England at Twickenham in 2002, captained Northampton yesterday against Gloucester and attacks his colleagues in an article to appear this week in South Africa Sports Illustrated magazine. Krige reveals a dislike of Matt Dawson, the former Saints scrum-half, so profound that: “I would have liked nothing more than to knock him out.”

Krige says that he now regrets not abandoning the club altogether earlier this season when fellow South African Alan Solomons, then Saints’ coach, had his contract terminated. Solomons, under whom Northampton had disastrous results, departed in favour of Budge Pountney and Paul Grayson.

“The way they treated Solly was just terrible. If I could have left straightaway I probably would have gone,” he says. As it is, Krige will not see out the second year of his contract. “The option for me was to pack it in now or bite the bullet for another year and not really enjoy it. I am a very proud person and would hate to admit that I attempted to do something that didn’t work out. But for me to play on for another year is just one year too many.”

Northampton supporters may be alarmed that a man at the head of an attempted escape from relegation apparently lacks commitment to the club.

Krige lays none of the blame for the departure of Solomons at the feet of the coach, but accuses instead his own playing colleagues and apparently, Keith Barwell, the club owner and his employer. “As a coach, you need to know that the owner of the club backs you and that you’ve got the backing of all the players; you might go through a few losses and tough times (but) they’ll stick to you.”

He goes on: “I don’t think some of the players were prepared to take responsibility and in the end he (Solomons) was the fall guy. The way he was treated at this club has made it very difficult for me.”

There will be others inside the club and outside who take serious issue with Krige’s assessment.

Solomons struck many as being a typical southern hemisphere coach who arrived with a major reputation but failed to grasp what the Zurich Premiership is all about. More famous coaches than he have made the same mistakes. It is a harsher, more competitive and more taxing world than the short Super 12 season, and most clubs are based on an inner core linked to the local community. Solomons drafted in a host of South African players, among them Krige, wing Wylie Human, lock Selborne Boome and prop Robbie Kempson. None has set the Premiership alight and it is hard to believe that any have performed better than a hungry, local Northampton player would have done.

Krige describes the atmosphere at the club when he arrived as “hostile”. Hardly a surprise after his near- hysterical effort in 2002. Sky Sports’ Rugby Club programme captured Krige committing three ludicrous offences during one passage of play, describing it as the Springbok captain’s “10 seconds of madness”. Dawson called Krige a “thug in chief” after the match. Krige blithely relates that he targeted England players. “When I decided in that game, right, this is what I am going to do, there are certain guys who I didn’t enjoy that much and I went for them.”

Rugby makes an ass of itself by charging referees for bringing rugby into disrepute for honest remarks, yet failing to punish Krige for admitting to violence.

Krige is happy at the reception he has been given by Northampton’s followers, who have filled the ground for almost every game despite the club’s plight. “They really accepted me as one of the Northampton boys.” It impossible to judge how many will now change their minds.