Today’s rugby news as Springboks face ‘catastrophic’ twist and coach turned down Wales job before Gatland appointment
Today’s rugby news as Springboks face ‘catastrophic’ twist and coach turned down Wales job before Gatland appointment
The latest news stories from the Rugby world Cup ahead of the final on Saturday

Springboks face big problem
Knowing they might not have a front-line hooker for Saturday’s World Cup final against New Zealand, South Africa will anxiously await the results of World Rugby’s inquiry into the alleged racial slur uttered by Bongi Mbonambi toward Tom Curry.
The England flanker claimed he had been the target of a racist slur, stating that the Springbok had called him a “white c***” during the two teams’ semi-final match, prompting the governing body to announce on Monday that it would be investigating the matter.
If the alleged racist statement is proven to be true, Mbonambi will certainly face disciplinary action, which will exclude him from competing in the World Cup final in Paris as the Boks attempt to win back-to-back titles. Such an occurrence, according to The New Zealand Herald, would be “catastrophic” for the Springboks.
As a result of Malcolm Marx’s knee injury, which forced him to withdraw from the competition in the middle of September, and Jacques Nienaber’s decision to call up fly-half Handre Pollard rather than a substitute front row, the 32-year-old is the sole specialist hooker in the team.
The Springboks have considered Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden to be adequate cover at hooker, but both players are primarily flankers rather than front-row players.
While a player cannot be called up to the World Cup squad to fill in for a suspension, a special dispensation may be given if it is believed the fairness of a game may be compromised. The Boks might need to bring in a replacement to play in the final after missing the rest of the tournament if scrums are uncontested in this situation.
Scott McLeod, an assistant coach for New Zealand, stated this regarding the controversy: “I just found out about it this morning. The issue will be handled by World Rugby. If anything came of it, it would leave them with a severe financial blow. He is the team’s leader. They would be affected because Siya [Kolisi, the South African captain], when he goes off, takes over as captain.
‘Boks shut down questions
During the news conference on Monday night, the Springboks refused to answer inquiries regarding the controversy.
Locks, Jean Kleyn, and Marvin Orie of South Africa were sent as the scrum coach in response to persistent inquiries about Mbonambi.
However, not before Human argued that the 32-year-old was a fine man and “a calm guy” and ended the repeated line of questioning regarding the hooker’s character.
He declared: “Bongani has been a vital component of our puzzle for the past six years and is very essential to us. He is unquestionably a leader. And he’s a fantastic guy—amazing for his family, down to earth, and incredibly humble. Like all the other players, he worked really hard.
Human continued, “I have not participated in any discussions about this.” “But he’s actually a calm guy; no, no, it’s not a big deal,” someone said. We have a World Cup final in six days, so I don’t want to truly get into it.
The England flanker claimed he had been the target of a racist slur, stating that the Springbok had called him a “white c***” during the two teams’ semi-final match, prompting World Rugby to announce that it would be investigating the matter.
South Africa coach turned Wales down
Jake White, the former World Cup-winning Springboks coach, said he declined the Wales post in 2007 before Warren Gatland was offered the position and expressed his deep regret over the choice.
White was leading South Africa to World Cup victory in France at the time of the approach, and Wales rejected him, leading to the appointment of Warren Gatland and the beginning of one of Welsh rugby’s most prosperous periods.
“I was tapped on the shoulder for the Wales job, and perhaps my biggest mistake was not taking it,” said White, 59, who currently serves as the Bulls’ head coach, to the BBC.
“David Pickering, the then-chairman of the WRU, asked me about the Wales position in 2007, and in retrospect I regret declining.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was a tremendous chance, and I haven’t worked in international rugby since. I was just 43 years old and never imagined that my rugby career would end.
Who knows what may have happened if I had taken it, but I am unable to turn back time. Things change direction, and life goes on. However, I’ll always have wonderful memories of Welsh rugby, the fantastic players it has produced, the rugby culture, and the people who were a part of it.