Slur allegation made in heated exchange between Curry and Mbonambi

Questions are being asked over the context to a number of heated exchanges between England flanker Tom Curry and South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi.

The Springboks scrapped their way into the Rugby World Cup with a gutsy 16-15 win over England, who despite coming in in as heavy underdogs led the game for the best part of 80 minutes.

It was a feisty affair that boiled over at times, with a few all-in-handbags between the sides spilling out in the first half, handbags which kicked off again after the final whistle, with Owen Farrell and Willie Le Roux getting into, although the pair shook hands a few moments later, suggesting it wasn’t the most bad-tempered of interactions.

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Farrell described it as a ‘misunderstanding’ after the game.

However, it was an earlier prickly exchange between Curry and Mbonambi around the 23rd-minute mark that caught the eye of some viewers. Words were exchanged between the pair which enraged Curry to the extent that the Sale Sharks player brought a complaint to match-day referee Ben O’Keeffe.

The exchange between Curry and O’Keeffe was picked up by the ref mic, and in it Curry accuses the hooker of racially abusing him.

Curry said to O’Keeffe: “Sir, Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c*** what do I do?” to which O’Keeffe replies: “Nothing please,” before suggesting that the comment may well have been picked up by the match day audio.

It was far from a common exchange, as it’s rare enough that a player will approach a referee over comments made during a match by another player.

Nothing came of it at the time but after the final whistle was blown as Curry put his hand out the shake the hooker’s hand, it was refused.

Mbonambi looked pretty annoyed, walking straight off the pitch in the direction of the changing rooms, seemingly not bothering to partake in the post-match handshaking or pitchside fan engagement, at least not initially at least.

Curry confirmed to reporters after the match that something had been said, although he refused to elaborate on exactly what: “Yeah… No, it doesn’t need to be talked about. Listen, I’m not talking about it now.”

Whether any more comes of the incident – be it due to an official complaint or a citing officer complaint – remains to be seen.

If Mbonambi is banned, it would make life difficult for the Springboks, as it would leave them with just Deon Fourie – a back row moonlighting as a hooker – as a stand-in.