Watch - Video purporting to reveal Bongi Mbonambi and Tom Curry incident emerges

A video that appears to reveal the audio from the Bongi Mbonambi and Tom Curry incident during the Rugby World Cup semi-final between South Africa and England has emerged online.

World Rugby is investigating an allegation made by Curry that he was racially abused by South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi in the first half of Saturday’s semi-final defeat.

Curry claimed to referee Ben O’Keeffe that he was called a “white c***” by Mbonambi and, after a complaint made by the Rugby Football Union, audio and video footage is being examined for evidence.

WATCH as Springbok scrum coach Daan Human fronts up to a group of English media hacks, while the Bongi Mbonambi saga escalates

WATCH as Springbok scrum coach Daan Human fronts up to a group of English media hacks, while the Bongi Mbonambi saga escalates

Now video of the incident is doing the rounds on X and a player can be heard shouting a phrase not dissimilar to what is being alleged.

Many Afrikaans Springboks supporters believe Mbonambi said ‘Wit kant’ or ‘wyd kant’ which loosely translates as ‘white side’ or ‘open side’ respectively,  although other accounts suggest Mbonambi – who went to English-speaking private school St. Alban’s College – is not a speaker of the language.

Cape Saakie posted the video on X, which is being pored over by rugby fans eager to work out what exactly was said:

So this is seemingly where the incident takes place. Listen from around 8s onwards.

My advice would be to put earphones in and decide for yourself what you hear? pic.twitter.com/8Qo571qd4s

— Benetton Bandwagon (@CapeSaakie) October 23, 2023

Whether the audio on the clip is viewed as compelling evidence in either direction is very much anyone’s guess.

World Rugby was on Tuesday evening unable to provide any update on its investigation into the allegation made against Mbonambi but intends on completing the process as quickly as possibly.

“I haven’t discussed that [with him]. But to be straightforward and honest with you, he is a calm guy,” said assistant coach Daan Human was asked about the scandal today. “He is well spoken and I don’t want to actually go into it because we have a World Cup final in six days’ time. Like I said I am more concentrated on the forwards.

“I can tell you one thing, we have three hookers [including Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden] in the group. Three guys who are capable of playing hooker so we are very comfortable having three hookers. If you want to go into a final, you must have two hookers.”

additional reporting PA