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Springboks camp 'not aware' of any Mbonambi comment
By Ian Cameron
The Springboks camp has denied knowledge of ‘any comment’ made by Bongi Mbonambi towards England flanker Tom Curry.
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Curry accused the South African hooker of calling him a ‘white ****’ during the Springboks’ 16-15 win in the Rugby World Cup semi-final in Paris last night.
Curry approached referee Ben O’Keeffe regarding the alleged slur and the exchange was picked up on the match-day ref mic and is being reported on.
Assistant coach Deon Davids has denied knowledge of the incident when quizzed by reporters this Sunday.
“I am not aware of any comment, it was never discussed. I don’t know,” said Davids.
Mbonambi refused to shake Curry’s hand after the match before storming off towards the changing room.
Curry refused to elaborate following the match on what was said, saying: “Yeah… No, it doesn’t need to be talked about. Listen, I’m not talking about it now.”
There is some evidence of bad blood between the pair, with both Curry and Mbonambi clashing in last year’s Autumn Nations Series fixture between the two sides, with the pair tussling and exchanging words. Whether that incident had anything to do with yesterday’s unpleasantries is anyone’s guess.
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Neither World Rugby, England nor the Springboks camp have as yet released an official statement on the matter. England have until Monday morning to make a complaint, although an independent citing commissioner could also make a complaint if there is any evidence that Mbonambi has a case to answer.
South Africa will return to the Stade de France to face New Zealand in the final on October 28th and could be forced to start back row Deon Fourie, who is not a specialist hooker.
Im shocked at Englands attempt to try weaken the SA team with this nonsense. Bring there name in ill repute. Disaponting.
It’s easy to play dumb when every member of your squad is fricken thick as.
Citing imminent hopefully. Curry has an obligation to take this further
Im shocked. This Bok team have such a great history pf acknowledging their mistakes and accepting decisions that go against them.
I think with the racial history in SA, the SA union must rightly take this seriously. This could be the latest iteration in and over and back between the pair. If the argument is racial in nature it needs to be addressed.
Mbonambi may only have been addressing based on the colour of Jersey. But if something like that was said, or Mbonambi felt there was something deeper that drove him to respond like that it needs to be sorted. Disappointing to see some SAs here gloss over this.
The bots have become sentient and are arguing between themselves.
Hopefully the beautiful way to play rugby will be restored Sunday. Passing the ball like the AB, the Irish, the French and not kicking the ball in the air or hopping for a scrum penalties. Go AB!!!
Umm, did you ask Bongi about it? Well, go on then, ask him.
And then also ask him why he said it.
Omg. Did someone call someone a naughty word ? We need to expose this hurtful name calling. Apparently Eben said the F word as well. Should have been a red card. French were robbed by the ref as well in this game. South Africa deserved 19 red yellow cards for the way the high tackled the grass
The whole world will be for the all blacks !
Springboks are the rugby shame : cheaters , doping , referee helping.
No one forgot 1995 : World Cup robbed .
For sure , even world rugby will want to see all blacks winning.
Only all blacks represent the real rugby that the people love.