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Ex-Harlequins forward scolds South African minister over Sale 'no knee' criticism

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The backlash from the decision of some of Sale Sharks’ players not to take the knee last weekend has provoked a passionate response from Renaldo Bothma, the former Harlequins flanker. 

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Amid a fallout that Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond has dismissed as a “storm in a teacup”, eleven of the starting XV opted not to take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the Sharks’ Gallagher Premiership loss to Quins at the Stoop on Friday.

The Sale players who did not kneel before the match were Springbok World Cup winning pair Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager‚ twins Jean-Luc and Daniel du Preez‚ their older brother Robert‚ Akker van der Merwe‚ Coenie Oosthuizen and club captain Jono Ross. 

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Former Premiership regular and recent cross-channel charity swimmer Alex Grove guests on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

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    Former Premiership regular and recent cross-channel charity swimmer Alex Grove guests on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

    England’s Manu Tuilagi, Scotland wing Byron McGuigan and Wales prop WillGriff John also stood. They did, however, wear the Rugby Against Racism t-shirts, which is the Premiership’s new campaign. 

    Gloucester’s Ruan Ackermann also stood before his club’s game with Worcester the following day on a weekend where Premiership clubs had all agreed on various ways to signal their support for the BLM movement.

    Since then, Nathi Mthethwa, the South African Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, has asked for an explanation as to why so many players took this stance. The South Africa-born Namibia international Bothma offered a response on social media. 

    He said: “I will never take a knee to anyone else than GOD! Where are all these ministers when we need to take a knee for farm murders in South Africa and take action against corruption? We all can decide what we want to do! NOBODY HAS ANY RIGHT TO FORCE SOMEONE TO GO ON THEIR KNEES!”

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    The reaction of Bothma, who left Quins over the summer, offered a brief insight into the complicated political backdrop that is perhaps motivating the players to take this stance. No players involved have responded yet and, as Diamond stressed, this is not something he deems too noteworthy.

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    Patrickhill300 30 minutes ago
    Shuffled Springboks pack could be a masterstroke – Jake White

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    Blackmania 1 hour ago
    ‘Current form doesn’t matter’: Commentator on potential All Blacks midfield

    I don’t really share Johnson’s opinion. Nothing better than Tupaea and Lienert-Brown in NZ? It’s a good duo, and he wouldn’t look out of place, but I think we can do better. Tavatavanawai seems superior to Tupaea at 12. He’s a brute force, who makes few mistakes (which can still be criticized in Tupaea), formidable both with and without the ball in close contact. I can see him playing with Proctor. On paper, this combination would be very, very interesting, in the same philosophy as the iconic Nonu/C Smith duo.

    Anyway, I remain convinced that in Razor’s mind, Jordie Barrett is indispensable at center, and he could quickly team up with Leicester Fainga’anuku. I’m betting on that in the near future.

    However, a Tavatanawai/Proctor duo would be very interesting. Ennor also seems to be a good option instead of Proctor, who still hasn’t played this season. But Ennor has only played one match... he needs to be seen again and get some game time. There is a lot of talent in New Zealand in these two positions. The hardest part will be cutting players who could make a difference for many teams. The choices are going to be tough. If I had to make a bold bet, and unlike Johnson, I don’t see Tupaea being selected, and I imagine ALB could be in a tight spot against Proctor and Ennor if they are fit.

    I imagine Jordie, Havili, Rieko, and Fainga'anuku with Tavatavanawai. Ennor or Proctor if Fainga'anuku is not selected in July. And ALB if Jordie is rested

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