The dust refuses to settle on the eye-gouging episode that is rapidly overshadowing the Lions Test series in South Africa. Verbal recriminations continued today with Graham Rowntree branding recent comments by Springboks coach Peter de Villiers as “crass” and “pathetic”.

Lions centre Brian O’Driscoll flew home injured today, but not before having his say on De Villiers, whose claim that Schalk Burger had done little to deserve his yellow card when gouging Luke Fitzgerald in the opening minute of the second Test has been roundly condemned.

Former England prop Rowntree today had his say after the flanker was sin-binned and subsequently banned for eight weeks but the anger remains amid no apparent official - or unofficial - apology from Burger.

The camps also disagree as to whether or not Lions head coach Ian McGeechan congratulated De Villiers on their Test series triumph. De Villiers claims they have not, but Lions media chief Greg Thomas today said McGeechan twice met his counterpart after the match last weekend and shook hands. It is another ingredient towards creating a potential third Test powderkeg at Ellis Park on Saturday.

After O’Driscoll used words like “absolute disgrace”, “despicable” and “mind-boggling” in reaction to De Villiers’ post-match comments - the South Africa coach subsequently issued an apology - Lions scrum specialist Rowntree offered his verdict.

“The comment was completely out of order,” he said. “It was a crass comment, pathetic really, and I am glad he has had to withdraw it. There is no place in the game for gouging - I think it is ridiculous what he said.

“We are upset by it. You can’t get away with making those comments,” he added. “The actual incident has been dealt with. Burger has been banned and we will move on.”

Rowntree, a Lion in 1997 and 2005 who won 54 England caps and made almost 400 appearances for Leicester, added: “Look, there is no room for it. How a player can think he can get away with it with so many cameras watching the game is beyond me.

“My opinion is there is no room for it in the game. I’ve never gouged anyone, hand on heart, never.

“What would make a guy want to do that? What advantage he thinks he can get away with by doing it, and how he thinks he can get away with it is just beyond thought for me.”

Burger’s suspension is the latest in a series of bans imposed on players during recent seasons for physical eye contact.

The list includes Northampton forwards Dylan Hartley and Neil Best, Italian pair Sergio Parisse and Mauro Bergamasco, plus pre-tour Lions selection Alan Quinlan.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) today said it is to consider introducing more stringent punishments for any player found guilty of gouging, to eradicate the “heinous” offence.

Quinlan received a 12-week suspension for making contact with Leinster skipper Leo Cullen’s eye during a Heineken Cup semi-final, ruling him out of the South Africa trip.

On hte difference between his ban and Burger's, Lions captain Paul O’Connell said: “The Burger incident probably looked a lot worse. It is a bit strange. Why it (length of ban) would differ, I don’t know.

“I am not expecting an apology from Schalk Burger. It was a bad incident, and we have to move on as a team. You can’t get hung up on it.”

And as for De Villiers’ remarks, O’Connell added: “I think it was a bad comment to make. We have all made mistakes, and he made a big one on Saturday.”

McGeechan, meanwhile, will name his third Test team tomorrow, when at least three changes are guaranteed with O’Driscoll, Gethin Jenkins and his fellow prop Adam Jones absent through injury.

England forwards Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery, as well as Ireland’s John Hayes, could fill the frontrow vacancies, with Keith Earls, Gordon D’Arcy, Riki Flutey and James Hook all in midfield contention. Centre Jamie Roberts (wrist) took no part in contact training today.

Victory for South Africa on Saturday would secure a first Test series whitewash in 118 years of fixtures against the Lions.

“We don’t deserve to go home (beaten) 3-0," Rowntree added, "and that’s what is driving us on this week. Believe me, we have got plenty in the tank.

“Yes, they (the players) were battered and bruised emotionally and physically after the game last week, but they will be up for the game come the weekend.

“The feedback we are getting is pretty positive. I think a lot of people are quite proud of our efforts and quite gutted for us,” he added. “We’ve lost a Test series over the two games by eight points, not by 38. We gave it everything.”