South Africa tried to dampen down the controversy around alleged discriminatory behavior and verbal abuse by hooker Bongi Mbonambi, cutting off questions about World Rugby’s investigation at a news conference on Monday.
World Rugby is formally reviewing the allegation that Mbonambi directed a racial slur at England’s Tom Curry in Saturday’s semifinal, where South Africa secured a 16-15 win to set up a final against New Zealand.
South Africa sent scrum coach Dan Human and two locks, Jean Kleyn and Marvin Orie, who are unlikely to feature in Saturday’s decider at the Stade de France, to answer questions in Monday's news conference, and none would be drawn on the allegations against Mbonambi.