The Springboks were left fuming at the "disrespect" shown to their national anthem before Friday's 20-13 Test match defeat by France.

The South African anthem was sung before France's stirring "Marseillaise" and the singer, sporting dreadlocks and backed by two tribal drummers, butchered the three-language homage to the Rainbow Nation.

At the anthem's conclusion, large parts of the crowd were laughing and several Bok players looked over angrily as the singer made his muted departure from the field.

"I must convey that we are annoyed by the fact that the French disrespected our anthem," blasted South Africa coach Peter de Villiers.

"They didn't get someone who really knows the thing and show any respect for it. We expect people to show respect to the anthem of any other country."

Vice-captain Victor Matfield said it had taken some of the wind out of the Springbok sails just moments before a kick-off in front of a hostile Toulouse crowd.

"It's almost like receiving a jersey - every week's a special moment," Matfield said of lining up to sing the anthem.

"Every time you go out on the field and sing the national anthem, it's very important for us and that's something that fires you up because it really fires you up because you know you're playing for your country.

"It was a joke out there. The guys couldn't sing along to it and even the crowd were starting to laugh. It was very disappointing."

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