THE SPRINGBOKS SAY they have not received word from World Rugby about when a decision will be reached in the review into the accusation by England flanker Tom Curry that South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi used discriminatory language towards him.
Curry told referee Ben O’Keeffe that Bongi had called him a “white c***” during last weekend’s World Cup semi-final between the sides, with World Rugby subsequently launching a formal review into the alleged incident.
The Springboks are currently preparing for the World Cup final against New Zealand on Saturday night in Paris and this story continues to rumble on.
Indeed, it looks increasingly likely that Mbonambi will play in Saturday’s game given that the World Rugby review could continue on into next week.
If confirmed, that will be a huge boost for the Springboks. Mbonambi is a key man given that he’s the only specialist hooker in their squad and captains the team when starting skipper Siya Kolisi is replaced.
The Springboks refused to comment specifically on the Mbonambi case at today’s press conference in Presles, north of Paris, but assistant coach Felix Jones said the review has not had any effect on Boks camp this week.
“The mood in the camp is, as you would expect for a World Cup final, everyone is hugely excited, a high level of focus,” said Jones. “Everyone will want to get their detail down early in the week and concentrate on delivering a performance.”
Mbonambi has had a heavy workload over the past two weekends, playing 74 minutes of the quarter-final win over France and then doing the full 80 against England, but Jones stated the Boks’ belief that Mbonambi will be good to go again this weekend.
“He has come through both of those games fine,” said Jones. “Any player that’s getting ready to play in a World Cup final won’t moan about how many minutes they’ve had. They’ll be ready to go.”
It has been a rancorous few days with the fallout from Curry’s accusation against Mbonambi. The English international and his family have been the subject of what his club, Sale Sharks, called “disgusting abuse.”
Curry has been named in the England team for Friday’s third-place play-off against Argentina, with his club having slammed the social media abuse.
“Sale Sharks’ owners, players, coaches, and staff are absolutely appalled by the nature and level of disgusting abuse directed at Tom Curry and his family in relation to an incident in the England v South Africa World Cup semi-final,” reads a statement from Sale.
“Everyone at the club stands fully and proudly behind Tom and we look forward to welcoming him back to Carrington.”
Curry’s England team-mates and coaches have also offered their support.
“Personally speaking, he has been first class like he always is,” said England captain Owen Farrell today.
“What isn’t understandable is the amount of abuse he has got, the effect that has had, not just on him. That is the bit I and we really don’t understand. It seems to be going more and more like this but it shouldn’t be.”
England head coach Steve Borthwick echoed Farrell’s words.
“His preparation this week has been the ultimate professional, like he is every single day, every week,” said Borthwick.
“This is not a Tom Curry incident. Someone has said something that he has reported and this is a World Rugby matter now. We’ve said what we want to say on the matter. We’ve got a game on Friday which Tom and all the England squad are looking forward to.”