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Springboks: The Bongi Mbonambi behind-the-scenes reaction to allegation
By Ian Cameron
South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi is said to have performed perfectly in training despite an ongoing investigation regarding an alleged racial slur made during the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
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Mbonambi was accused during the game of using racialised language against England flanker Tom Curry, who brought his concerns to referee Ben O’Keeffe.
The comments were picked up by O’Keeffe’s ref mic and now World Rugby are probing what exactly went on. The drama has been the talk of Rugby World Cup final week and the Boks faced questions on the issue at a press conference today.
“It’s being dealt with by World Rugby and South Africa Rugby at the moment. From our side I really can’t comment on something like that,” said Springboks assistant coach Daan Human.
Human did reveal that the hooker is dealing pretty well with things despite being at the centre of the storm.
“He had a perfect training this afternoon, well not perfect but we strive to have a perfect training. I can’t really comment on that.
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“Bongi has been part of this group for the last six years. He is a very important piece of our puzzle, he is definitely very important to us like all the other players.”
“He is definitely one of our leaders in the group as well, a great guy. A great family man and I know his kids always look after my kids when they come to the hotel. He is a very humble guy, down to earth and a very hard worker like all the other players, which they should be if they want to play for the Springboks.”
Human downplayed the idea that the Sharks forward was shocked by the accusation that have been levelled against him.
“I haven’t discussed that [with him]. But to be straightforward and honest with you, he is a calm guy. He is well spoken and I don’t want to actually go into it because we have a World Cup final in six days’ time. Like I said I am more concentrated on the forwards.”
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Human also insists that the team are well stocked at No.2, despite Mbonambi being the only specialist hooker left in the squad following the withdrawal of Malcolm Marx due to injury back in September.
“I can tell you one thing, we have three hookers [including Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden] in the group. Three guys who are capable of playing hooker so we are very comfortable having three hookers. If you want to go into a final, you must have two hookers.”
Springboks lock Jean Kleyn described his teammate as a ‘great guy’, although he refused to comment directly on the accusations made against him.
“Bongi is a great guy, I have known him since we played together at the Stormers. He is a good individual. I’m not going to comment on it, I’m not going to justify it.”
“Passionate guy, a family man. He has captained the Springboks a few times now. He is an upstanding guy, I don’t think there’s a fella in the squad who doesn’t like him.”
Curry should maybe do a little research and understand that South Africa has 11 Official languages One of which is Afrikaans, Now if you say in Afrikaans “aan die wit kant” or just “wit kant” then direct translation to English would be “On the White side” or just “white side” now I know the English team have been playing hard but in general their clothes was still considered white or at least Wit 🙃. So Mr Curry sorry that you took offense for being allocated to the team playing in white clothes, but it was not a racially aligned or even negative comment
they had a certain amount of time to make an official formal complaint England that is 36 hours right before ANY investigating right i have not read curry or England making such a move SO sorry bro (curry) you are a hard barzted tough as they come im sure if you wanted this bone you would have crushed it you havent so shut this shit down bro these homos arent anywhere near as tough as you and bongi bro but they are feeding ,regurgitating , manifesting this stuff into the ridiculous You have won many times in your life cause your a gun (kiwi slang excellent ) arent wins so much better when the loser is a good loser
That Tom is a very angry man, a very bad loser actually, l just wonder how does he expect the Rugby World Cup should handle his nonsense? The committee is fucusing to incidents that happens during World Cup, get your facts right Tom, stop making yourself prat idiot!!!
Tom Curry the England player, why does he bring this incident of him & Mbonambi now? & yet it unfolded last year in Twickenham where they lost 27-15, why now ? In fact the Rugby World Cup committee shouldn’t even entertain his rubbish he’s just an angry loser
As an afraans speaking person both wyd & white make sense to use ‘white kant’ simply means white side refering to the color of the jerseys the other team was wearing
Blacks in South Africa don't use the words in the teanslation they have been attributed to Bongi. They even frown on “Bloody” or “Oh god.”
We always joked how some idiot was going to get confused by that word… at least he didn't call him a “rooinek poes”…
I know two things .
One is that Bongi is not guilty.
Two.The Springboks is about to win their back to back world cup.
The Springboks only had 5% possession against England and they beat a team that had 94% possession of the ball.
So S.A defence for Bongi is he said wit Kant translated to white side, and there is me thinking that Ben O”Keeffe who was ref would say that.
Bongi is guilty of using the Afrikaans word KANT….England been called white by the ref and SA green by the ref….so Bongi warning his players the ball was on the white side….white kant….Tom must grow a pair….. Farrell cost England the game… back chatting the ref cost 10meters and 3 points…Farrell also tripped a player in the red zone…yellow and another 3 points….England France and Ireland cry like girls when they loose…..Tom shud apologize and England shud learn how to score trys if they ever want to be genuine contenders ..as we all saw kicking and chasing in the rain may get them close but thst’s it….if memory serves me right they haven’t scored a single try against SA in all of the WC games played….my advice….stop blaming everyone….develope mental toughness and learn how to score trys…if they don’t have the talent do what Ireland and Scotland do….go shopping….