Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi cleared to play in Rugby World Cup final against All Blacks

PARIS – England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) says it is “deeply disappointed” that South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has been cleared of a racial slur and will play in Saturday’s World Cup final.

Mbonambi – the only specialist hooker in the Springbok squad – was alleged to have directed the slur at England’s Tom Curry in South Africa’s 16-15 victory in the semi-finals last week.

However, having investigated Curry’s claim that Mbonambi called him “a white c**t”, World Rugby on Thursday declared the matter “closed”.

“Having considered all the available evidence, including match footage, audio and evidence from both teams, the governing body has determined that there is insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges,” rugby’s global governing body said in a statement.

“Therefore, the matter is deemed closed unless additional evidence comes to light.”

Their decision sparked a furious reaction from the RFU, who claimed Mbonambi had aimed the same slur at forward Curry in a Test match between the teams in last November.

“The RFU are deeply disappointed by the decision taken by World Rugby,” it said in a statement.

“The decision not to put the evidence before an independent disciplinary panel has denied the disciplinary process the opportunity to hear Tom Curry’s voice and to independently assess his account of these serious events, together with the other available evidence.”

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said the issue had not affected him and the squad.

“We’re fortunate in terms of the support of a legal team and everybody who worked behind the scenes,” he said at the announcement of the team on Thursday.

“We were shielded from it, we were in our bubble. For us, we focused on rugby and that was taken care of in the background.”

The decision was not the only matter the RFU was furious about.

Curry, who four years ago was in the England team who lost to a South Africa side including Mbonambi in the World Cup final in Japan, has been bombarded with “disgusting” abuse on social media.

“In their continued full support of Tom, the RFU together with the England squad, condemn the disgusting abuse he and his family has received on social media as a result of his having had the courage to put unacceptable behaviour that has no place in society or on the rugby field, in the public eye,” the RFU said.

“Abuse of any kind is not acceptable and goes against the core values of rugby.

“It is important that it is safe and acceptable for everyone involved in rugby union to raise concerns, and the RFU continue to encourage everyone to report any unacceptable behaviour in the game.”

Curry, who will play in Friday’s third-place play-off against Argentina, received support from Springboks captain Siya Kolisi.

“I have spoken to him, I sent him a message,” Kolisi said at Thursday’s press conference.

“He is someone I respect. We can take it as players. When it comes to you, it’s fine, but when families are involved it’s different.

“I have let him know we are supporting him, we are thinking of him.”

When England played Argentina on the first weekend of the Rugby World Cup they were coming off six defeats in nine games with doubts swirling about their prospects, but when they meet again on Friday it is on a run of five wins in six games.

But both sides are licking their wounds from two very different semi-final losses.

The Pumas were pitifully hammered 44-6 by a rampaging New Zealand but can equal their best-ever finish in the tournament with a win at the Stade de France.

“For us, for everything we did and for the country, to be able to win bronze is to finish as high as we can,” Argentina’s Australian coach Michael Cheika said.

“Also the experience for everyone in the group, for the future and the legacy of the most experienced players. Finishing as high as we can was always the goal.”

Meanwhile, Steve Borthwick’s valiant England, champions in 2003, led holders South Africa until Handre Pollard’s 78th-minute penalty claimed the narrow victory for the Springboks.

Borthwick said that both teams have grown since that opening fixture. “Argentina have developed a very long kicking game,” he said.

“They have used that to great effect, particularly in the quarter-final (win over Wales) to force the opposition into errors. They have developed a phase attack game. Both teams have played more games together, so I think it is a different contest.” AFP, REUTERS