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

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber (left) with Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus

Springboks face big problem
South Africa will nervously await the findings of World Rugby’s investigation into the alleged racial slur made by Bongi Mbonambi towards Tom Curry, knowing they could go into Saturday’s World Cup final against New Zealand without a front-line hooker.

The governing body announced on Monday that it would be reviewing the incident after the England flanker claimed he had been the victim of a discriminatory remark, alleging that the Springbok called him a “white c***” during the two sides’ semi-final clash.

If evidence of the alleged racist remark is found, disciplinary proceedings are likely to be triggered against Mbonambi, which would rule him out of the final in Paris as the Boks look to win successive World Cups. The New Zealand Herald have described such a scenario as ‘catastrophic’ for the Springboks

The 32-year-old is the only specialist hooker in Jacques Nienaber’s squad, after Malcolm Marx was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury in mid-September and fly-half Handre Pollard was called up instead of a replacement front row.

Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden have been viewed by the Springboks as sufficient cover at hooker, but both players are primarily flankers rather than front-row players.

Frantic new England v South Africa video emerges amid claims Tom Curry incident was ‘misunderstanding’
However, while a player cannot be called into a World Cup squad to cover for suspension, special dispensation can be granted if it is felt the integrity of a match might be affected. In this instance, scrums could be uncontested, meaning the Boks may have to bring in a replacement to play in the final after missing the rest of the tournament.

New Zealand assistant coach Scott McLeod said of the controversy: “I learned about it this morning. It is something World Rugby will deal with. If anything came of it, it would be a massive dent for them. He is a leader of their team. When Siya [Kolisi, South Africa captain] goes off, he becomes the captain so I imagine it would impact them.”

‘Boks shut down questions
The Springboks shut down questions about the controversy during Monday evening’s press conference.

South Africa sent scrum coach Dan Human locks, Jean Kleyn and Marvin Orie were repeatedly asked questions about Mbonambi.

The persistent line of questioning about the hooker’s character was cut short, but not before Human insisted the 32-year-old was a good man and “a calm guy”.

He said: “Bongani has been part of our squad for the last six years now and an important piece of our puzzle, he’s very important to us. He’s definitely one of the leaders. And a great, great guy, great family man, very humble guy, down to earth. Very hard worker, like all the other players,” he said.

“I have not been part of any discussions about this,” Human added of the controversy. “But he’s a calm guy actually, a calm guy … no, no, it’s really not a big thing. I don’t want to actually go into it because we’ve got a World Cup final in six days’ time.”

Rugby changes forever as new 12-team competition approved and Six Nations change announced
World Rugby announced on Monday that it would be reviewing the incident after the England flanker claimed he had been the victim of a discriminatory remark, alleging that the Springbok called him a “white c***” during the two sides’ semi-final clash.

South Africa coach turned Wales down
Former World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White has revealed he turned down the Wales job before it was offered to Warren Gatland back in 2007, describing the decision as a big regret.

At the time of the approach, White was leading South Africa to World Cup glory in France and rejected Wales, who went on to appoint Warren Gatland and spark one of the most successful eras in Welsh rugby history.

White, who is now 59 and coaches the Bulls, told the BBC: “I was tapped on the shoulder for the Wales job and perhaps my biggest mistake was not taking it.

“David Pickering (then WRU chairman) asked me about the Wales job in 2007 and, in hindsight, I regret saying no.

“It was a great opportunity and I didn’t realise at the time, but I haven’t worked in international rugby since then. I was only 43 and never thought I would be finished in [Test] rugby.

“Who knows what might have happened had I taken it but I can’t rewind the clock. Things twist and turn and life moves on. But I will always have great memories of Welsh rugby, the incredible players it has produced, the rugby culture and the people involved.”

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Brain disease linked to career length
By Jamie Gardner, PA Chief Sports Reporter

A player’s risk of developing an incurable brain disease uniquely associated with repeated head impacts is relative to the length of their career, a new study indicates.

Each additional year of playing was found to increase the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by 14 per cent, in a study of the brains of 31 former players whose average career length was 18 years.

CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem, and to date the only recognised risk factor for CTE is traumatic brain injury and repeated head impact exposure.

The study, published in Acta Neuropathologica in the week of the Rugby World Cup final, found CTE present in 21 of the 31 brains (68 per cent) donated to research institutes in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Cases with CTE averaged a career length of 21.5 years, while in those without CTE the average was 12.1 years.