THE South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) has denied any knowledge of the contents of a tape which led to the downfall of Springbok manager Andre Markgraaff on Tuesday.

The illicit recording in which Markgraaff referred to the SARFU senior vice-president and National Sports Council chairman, Mluleki George, as a "fucking kaffir" was made known to Markgraaff at the end of the November.

Critics claimed that SARFU should have acted immediately rather than have their hand forced by the release to the media of the recording.

"We deny the allegations that SARFU ever knew the contents of the tape very, very strongly," SARFU press officer Alex Broun said yesterday.

"Rian Oberholzer our chief executive says this very firmly. We were told a player was trying to blackmail Andre Markgraaff and Dr Luyt (SARFU president) told him to seek legal advice.

Broun pointed out that Markgraaff had not heard the tape until it was aired on national television on Monday night.

Oberholzer flew to Johannesburg yesterday for a meeting of a SARFU executive committee beset by crises on all sides.

They are expected to formally accept Markgraaff's resignation and may even staunch the wound by naming his successor.

Nick Mallett, a former Springbok and forwards coach under Markgraaff on the successful end of season tour to Argentina, France and Wales, is favourite to succeed his old Western Province team mate.

"It would be a great honour to coach South Africa. I have not been approached and a lot would depend on the Boland Rugby Union to which I am contracted the 40-year-old said.

The resignation and implication of widespread racism within the game comes on top of a government probe into the game's affairs and a positive drug test of a Springbok player.

SARFU have already said they will not co-operate with the government's investigation - due to begin tomorrow - unless its composition is changed.

They object to the presence of a representative of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA) on the three man task force. Rugby is not an Olympic sport and SARFU are not members of NOCSA.

"If they do not attend the meeting we will take the appropriate steps and they will not get the report," a ministerial spokeswoman Zipporah Mothoa said, referring to a dossier which raises questions about the financial handling of spons6rship and television deals in the game.

"The (sports) minister (Steve Tshwete) invited the SARFU executive committee to meet him so he could explain the task force and all its implications," she said.

"Rian Oberholzer (chief executive) and Hennie Erasmus (executive committee member) agreed that would be fine. As far as we are concerned we are to meet them on Friday," Mothoa said.

She declined to elaborate on what action might be taken against SARFU if it refused to cooperate, but it could include their worst-case scenario of a commission of inquiry.

SARFU press officer Alex Broun reiterated the union's stance yesterday: "It doesn't look like a meeting will take place at the moment," he said.

"We have an obligation to our sponsors and television rights holding broadcasters to protect their interests and we do not feel it is appropriate to have representatives from other sporting codes probing into SARFU matters."

Former South African captain Francois Pienaar branded the comments by Markgraaff as irresponsible" yesterday, but played down his chances of an international recall against the Lions later this year.

"It is a serious blow to South African rugby. We spent a lot of time building up trust among the communities and now this happens," said Pienaar, who left South Africa in December to join English first division club Saracens.

"I can't make any sense out of it. But people must remember it is the irresponsible views of one person and not the views of the whole country, nor the views of the players.

"Even so, the feeling over here now is going to be, have there actually been so many changes in sport in South Africa? It's a serious blow."

Pienaar, however, is among those who could ultimately benefit from Markgraaff's fall. A personality clash between the two led to Pienaar's omission from the Springbok tour party to Argentina, France and Wales at the end of last year and his subsequent move to England.