The New Zealand Rugby Union's refusing to respond to South Africa's labelling of the disciplinary hearing against Springboks coach Peter de Villiers as a declaration of war.
South Africa's Rugby president Oregan Hoskins made the comments after a statement was issued saying De Villiers had been misunderstood.
De Villiers will appear before the SANZAR judiciary on Friday night charged with breaching the code of conduct, after he criticised the refereeing in the Springboks' losses to the All Blacks and implied there was a conspiracy to help boost interest in next year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Hoskins says he stands by de Villiers.
The NZRU says as the hearing is still to take place it would be inappropriate to comment.
No doubt adding to the South Africa conspiracy theory is the dropping of assistant referee Cobus Wessels, who's been replaced by New Zealander Keith Brown for Saturday's Test between the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Wessels has been demoted to the role of Television Match Official, after a review of his performance in last weekend's Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne.
