England coach David Lloyd called it ``pure Test-match cricket''. He said that after Allan Donald had had words with Michael Atherton, he hoped ``there would be respect between the two men''.
He added: ``This kind of thing happens in such situations. You must just get on with the game.''
Lloyd declined to speculate on suggestions that South Africa had suffered from umpiring decisions during the day and said he had no view on the propriety of batsmen walking if they knew they were out.
He was prepared, however, to say of Atherton's innings that ``he showed just the guts, endeavour, commitment and bravery he has always shown in these situations''.
South Africa's coach Bob Woolmer also backed away from any debate about the merits or otherwise of Jonty Rhodes' dismissal and a incident late in the day when the tourists thought Atherton had gloved Donald to the wicketkeeper - a view supported by television replays.
Woolmer would only say of Alec Stewart's catch to get rid of Rhodes: ``Players mustn't show dissent. Rhodes walked off without any problem and that was a tremendous example to everyone.
``Sir Don Bradman once said that you need luck as well as skill and it certainly didn't go our way today. But it is tough out there for the umpires, and hard work for them. You need a bit of luck to have decisions go your way.''
Woolmer said Donald bowled with tremendous aggression. ``He was ahead of everyone. But all credit to Atherton and Hussain. They fought it out and Donald knows for certain he has been in a battle.''
These are the umpiring decisions provoking most arguments in a Test dogged by controversy:
In England's first innings, Mark Butcher was given out lbw by New Zealand umpire Steve Dunne when Donald was bowling round the wicket and delivering from wide on the crease.
Nasser Hussain, pushing forward to Steve Elworthy, was also given out lbw by Dunne when it seemed from the angle the ball might have been passing outside off stump.
Jacques Kallis appeared unhappy when caught behind by Stewart to give Andrew Flintoff his first Test wicket - though some in the visitors' camp indicated afterwards they believed Kallis had hit the ball, which would have supported umpire Dunne's decision.
Rhodes was also leg-before to Angus Fraser, who was coming round the wicket, this time given out by Merv Kitchen, when it was possible the ball might have passed over the stumps.
Gary Kirsten became another Fraser lbw victim, again from round the wicket, again from umpire Dunne, the ball hitting the top of the pad roll.
Rhodes flicked at a leg-side ball from Dominic Cork and though the only contact appeared to be off the pad, Stewart immediately appealed and won the decision from Kitchen.
Late in the day, Atherton fenced at Donald and it appeared that the ball had gone via his glove into Mark Boucher's hands. But umpire Dunne ignored the appeals.