The South African Embassy staff have been fingered in the diplomatic row that has erupted after the shocking rendition of the country's national anthem before the Springboks played France in Toulouse last Friday.

The South African anthem, 'Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica', was sung before France's stirring 'Marseillaise and the Rastafarian singer, Ras Dumisani, backed by two drummers of his Afrikhaya Band, made a mess of the four-language homage to the Rainbow Nation.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers called the rendition "disrespectful" and vice-captain Victor Matfield said it was a "joke", as they vented their anger at the extraordinary shocking rendition of the anthem.

French team manager Jo Maso said the choice of singer at each Test in France is made by the visiting team's diplomatic staff.

"Every time we welcome a foreign side, we ask the embassy to propose people for the national anthems," said Maso.

"It's the South African Embassy that put forward this man and we respected their choice."

Dumisani, a Durban native who sported dreadlocks tucked into a huge red, green and white Rastafarian cap, was aghast when told that the Bok coach, De Villiers, and several players were unhappy with his rendition, saying "everyone at the stadium told me I sang well, even after the match."

"No one told me they were upset with the singing," the Durban native told AFP. "In fact, someone just came up to me and told me how beautifully I had sung."

At the anthem's conclusion, large parts of the crowd were left openly 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."

Speaking after the match on Friday, Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield said Dumisani's rendition of the anthem had taken some of the wind out of the Springbok sails just moments before a kick-off.

"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."