「謙虚な男」 暴言疑惑ムボナンビを南ア代表は擁護　ラグビーＷ杯

【プレル（フランス）ＡＦＰ＝時事】ラグビー南アフリカ代表のボンギ・ムボナンビが、Ｗ杯フランス大会準決勝でイングランドのトム・カリーに人種差別的な暴言を浴びせた疑惑について、南アフリカ陣営が「謙虚な男」だとムボナンビを擁護した。（写真は観客と写真を撮る南アフリカ代表のボンギ・ムボナンビ〈左〉）
　ムボナンビは、チームが１６－１５でイングランドに競り勝った激戦のさなか、カリーに暴言を浴びせたことが疑われており、カリーは試合中に主審にそのことを報告した。ワールドラグビーの調査を経て出場停止処分が下されれば、２８日に行われるニュージーランドとの決勝に向けてチームには大きな痛手となる。
　しかし、南アフリカのディフェンスコーチを務めるダーン・ヒューマン氏は疑惑に直接言及はせず、シヤ・コリシの不在時には主将も務めるムボナンビへの称賛と尊敬の言葉を口にした。
　ヒューマン氏は報道陣に対して「現在はワールドラグビーと南アフリカラグビー協会が対応している。そういう件に対して、われわれから言えることはあまりない」と話し、「彼は謙虚な男で、分別があり、他の全選手と同じように非常に勤勉だ。スプリングボクス（南アフリカ代表の愛称）でプレイしたいなら欠かせない資質だ」と続けた。
　さらに、ムボナンビと疑惑について話はしていないとしつつ、「正直に言って、彼は冷静な男だ」とコメント。「言葉遣いもいいし、この件に深入りはしたくない。Ｗ杯決勝が６日後にあるからだ」と話した。
　ＬＯジーン・クラインは疑惑を一蹴し、「ボンギは素晴らしい男だ。彼のことはストーマーズでチームメートだった頃から知っている」と話した。
　「情熱的で、家族思いでもある。スプリングボクスでキャプテンを務めたことも何度かある。チーム内に彼のことを嫌いな選手はいないだろう」
　「あの件にコメントするつもりはないし、正当化もしない」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/10/25-16:52）

The South African camp has rallied round hooker Bongi Mbonambi who has been accused of making a racial slur at England's Tom Curry, saying he was a humble guy and a human guy.
Mbonambi, 32, would be a huge loss to the defending champions for Saturday's final with fellow three-time winners New Zealand if World Rugby's investigation finds him guilty.
He has made light of the absence of fellow 2019 World Cup-winning hooker Malcom Marx, who had to leave the tournament due to injury, and was named man of the match in the 29-28 quarter-final victory over hosts France.
Curry made the accusation when he approached match referee Ben O'Keeffe after half an hour of Saturday's hard-fought semi-final which the Springboks won 16-15.
However, although South Africa defence coach Daan Human would not address the accusation directly, he made plain his admiration and respect for Mbonambi, who has also assumed the captaincy role when Siya Kolisi has gone off.
It's being dealt with by World Rugby and South Africa Rugby at the moment, he told reporters.
From our side I really can't comment on something like that.
Bongi has been part of this group for the last six years. He is a very important piece of our puzzle, he is definitely very important to us like all the other players.
He is definitely one of our leaders in the group as well, a great guy.
He is a very humble guy, down to earth and a very hard worker like all the other players, which they should be if they want to play for the Springboks.
Human claimed not to have spoken to Mbonambi about Curry's accusation that he called him a white (followed by an expletive).
To be straightforward and honest with you, he is a calm guy, said Human.
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.
If Mbonambi were barred from the final, it would leave South Africa short on specialised hookers as Marx was replaced in the squad by fly-half Handre Pollard.
Converted backrow forward Dean Fourie has been Mbonambi's replacement off the bench.
Human dismissed those concerns.
I can tell you one thing, we have three hookers (including Dean Fourie and Marco van Staden) in the group, he said.
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.
Springboks lock Jean Kleyn gave the accusation against Mbonambi short shrift.
Bongi is a great guy, I have known him since we played together at the Stormers, said Kleyn.
Passionate guy, a family man. He has captained the Springboks a few times now. I don't think there's a fella in the squad who doesn't like him.
I'm not going to comment on it, I'm not going to justify it.