Springboks' Mbonambi update, le Roux explains his England bust-up

The Springboks have delivered the latest update regarding the ongoing Bongi Mbonambi investigation by World Rugby, while Willie le Roux has also explained his final whistle altercation last Saturday night with England players, including skipper Owen Farrell.

It emerged on Monday that World Rugby were formally reviewing the allegation made by Tom Curry in relation to the alleged use of discriminatory language by South African hooker Mbonambi.

Ahead of their latest pre-Rugby World Cup final media briefing on Wednesday afternoon, reporters were told from the stage in Presles that neither assistant coach Felix Jones nor ‘bomb squad’ members Kwagga Smith nor le Roux would be taking questions on the matter.

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England v South Africa

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Instead, a staff member said: “The Bongi investigation remains ongoing, it’s a World Rugby process, it’s live so we’re not in a position to answer any questions about the state of that investigation.”

Full-back le Roux shared his top-table interview time with Smith and during that segment, he was asked to explain what had happened immediately after referee Ben O’Keeffe blew his final whistle to confirm the Springboks were 16-15 winners over England.

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“It was just emotion,” he claimed. “I think I had the same emotion as everyone back home, I was excited, the margins in those big games are so small.

“I just jumped up out of the emotion of happiness that we had just got through a World Cup semi-final. There was no disrespect to any of the English players. I think they thought there was and I immediately told them there wasn’t and then it stopped. There was nothing, nothing about that.”

Saturday’s final will be assistant coach Jones’ last game with the Springboks before he links up with Steve Borthwick’s England for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. There has been speculation that his arrival will see current defence coach Kevin Sinfield leave his post after just a year.

Jones, though, opted not to confirm the exact role he will be taking when he joins England. “I am assistant coach so between myself, Richard (Wigglesworth) and Steve that will all get sorted out. I rather not go into that with the game on the weekend.”

One of the main talking points heading into this weekend is whether Manie Libbok has a chance of selection after he was tactically replaced in the first half of the semi-final so that the under-pressure Springboks could improve their kicking game with sub Handre Pollard on.

Coach Jacques Nienaber insisted post-game that such an early substitution didn’t mean that Libbok wouldn’t be considered to start the final, and Jones confirmed that the experience hadn’t affected the way the out-half was going about his work this week with the squad.

“Manie has been this week his normal self,” suggested Jones. “He has been doing everything he has normally done for us since he came in with the group just over a year ago… he has been his normal, happy self this week, helps the guys around him, performs his extras, performs his detail, assists in meetings, there has been no difference to Manie.”

Speaking generally, Jones added: “The mood in the camp, as you would expect for a World Cup final, everyone is hugely excited, a high level of focus, everyone wants to get their detail down early in the week and concentrate on delivering a performance and enjoying it.”

Springboks get down to Rugby World Cup final training on Wednesday in Paris. #NZLvRSA #RWC2023 #Springboks pic.twitter.com/QEBudLn9yu

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2023