Springbok wing James Small is living up to his reputation as the bad boy of South African rugby, after the Cape News reported that he was involved in a punch-up with national team-mate Toks van der Linde.

Small, the most capped Springbok of all time, allegedly grabbed for a knife after Van der Linde hit him at a pre-season social gathering in the ocean town of Hermanus near Cape Town last week, the Cape Times said, quoting witnesses.

Team-mates intervened to end the fracas and the two men played a round of golf together the next day. Van der Linde admitted to an altercation with Small but insisted he could not recall Small grabbing a knife.

"It was a situation that started innocently and got out of hand. The squad were enjoying a braai (barbecue) at the beach and messing around. James and I got into an altercation and more out of frustration I hit him. But there was no knife involved," said Van der Linde.

"James and I played golf the next day and both of us agreed it was a stupid thing to do, and not fair on our team-mates. I don't want to make much of it because it was no great deal. We have sorted it out," he said.