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All Blacks break silence on Bongi Mbonambi accusations
By Ian Cameron
New Zealand defence coach Scott McLeod believes that the potential loss of hooker Bongi Mbonambi would be ‘a massive’ dent for South Africa’s designs on a lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in five days time.
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Mbonambi faces a World Rugby investigation after England flanker Tom Curry alleged during his side’s Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat on Saturday that the Bok hooker called him a ‘white c***’.
The South African refused to shake Curry’s hand after the game and the allegation – which was picked up by Ben O’Keeffe’s ref mic – was widely reported in the press.
As the only specialist hooker left in the Springboks camp, a potential ban for Mbonambi ahead of the World Cup final would be a significant blow to the defending world champions’ bid to defend the title.
New Zealand defence coach McLeod was asked what sort of impact it would have on the Springboks and he didn’t pull his punches.
“I learned about it this morning. It is something World Rugby will deal with,” said McLeod. ‘If anything came of it, it would be a massive dent for them. He is a leader of their team. When Siya [Kolisi, South Africa captain] goes off, he becomes the captain so I imagine it would impact them.”
This morning World Rugby revealed that they are probing the allegations. “World Rugby takes all allegations of discriminatory behaviour extremely seriously,” a statement from the governing body read. “We can confirm that we are formally reviewing the allegation made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language during the England versus South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final on Saturday. World Rugby will not be making further comment until the conclusion of the process.”
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The Springboks are also carrying out their own internal investigation.
This can be resolved next week this time its fine, all I want to see is a great game between the 2 best rugby nations.
And I am saying that he did or didn’t say what Curry assumed he heard, and from little knowledge of the Afrikaans language the word “kant” means “side” In English, which I hear it a lot from my South Africa Afrikaans speaking colleagues at work.
AND we all know that every team would always speak their own language to confuse the other team.
You can’t call someone a black c** but it’s acceptable to call someone a white c***, get real, double standards *
No Man. It wasnt a racial Slur. He was just speaking Afrikaans. Wit Kant. Like it was whites side. The springboks communicate in a different language.
If the IRB ban Mbonambi, then the Boks must simply withdraw and default the Cup
Can we let the two best sides onto the paddock in the name of fair play.
There is enough time for the powers that be to deal with the collateral damages in the aftermath of it all.
All the players deserve the spot light at this time and not the world rugby governing body.
When did rugby players become snowflake crybabies.
World Rugby should look at Curry’s history. Numerous red cards vs a co captain.
ByEBye Box 😅 seems mod.ly petty but wd b no complaint if not said so ByeBye Bongi axd as hes the last true Hooker replacement for Marx ByeBye Box . Sadly record 4th ABs. fwiw IF Bongi is ok to be called a dirty N*** by Curry then maybe ok let him off 😂
As a white Kiwi I want to see the guy play. Reason is nothing to do with woke or anti woke. ‘If’ he actually said it- if- then I have full confidence that he's regretting it. Apply good ol' SA justice (Mandela style) and something amazing could happen. He could walk out at the head of the Boksvwith a 23 white roses as a symbolic apology. NZ could be waiting to greet him. Sam Cane could accept them and say ‘Enough said- shall we play a game?’
I believe in people and cultures growing through sport. I don't need to see people punished. (Again this is assuming he said it - how big a deal? ) I see a far dirtier world than even proper bad swearing…I I want NZ and SA to show the world competition, cooperation and freindship and a culture of good will between our people's. That's the legacy of the Ab story in NZ I'm most proud of.
Also there panicking over losing their good players so everyone defending the player in hopes he’s in for the final game however by fact he shouldn’t if rugby world Cup takes racial discrimination seriously then let’s see it if he plays in final then clearly not period
The lord as spoken do not speak against lord or face further famin and more disasters