South Africa play down players' drinking after defeat

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Apr 16 (Reuters) South Africa's team management have attempted to play down a controversy over a number of their players staying out drinking late on Saturday night after a World Cup defeat against New Zealand.

South African team manager Goolam Rajah brushed aside the issue, suggesting no player faced any disciplinary action over the incident which happened in Grenada after the five-wicket defeat left the team concerned for their semi-final berth.

''A few guys had a few drinks after the match,'' Rajah told Reuters today. ''It is not an issue at all. It is closed.'' South Africa face England in Barbados in a round-robin Super Eights match tomorrow which both teams need to win to claim the last semi-final berth.

Skipper Grame Smith dismissed the issue, telling a news conference on the match eve that some players were ''blowing off some steam''.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was stripped of his vice-captaincy and fined with other team members after a late-night drinking session earlier in the event.

The seven-week tournament ends with the final in Barbados on April 28.

REUTERS PDS KP2326