The build-up to England’s third-place match against Argentina at the Rugby World Cup has been overshadowed by allegations of racism after Tom Curry claimed that he was subjected to a racist remark by South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi. The latter has since been cleared by World Rugby after an investigation determined that there was not enough evidence to take action.
Mbonambi has already been named in South Africa’s team for the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand, which will take place at the Stade de France on Saturday evening. England head coach Steve Borthwick responded to the ruling by accusing World Rugby of denying Curry a voice, with the 25-year-old having suffered a barrage of online abuse in the aftermath of the alleged incident.
“Tom Curry has done nothing wrong,” said Borthwick. “World Rugby made a decision not to allow the opportunity for the victim’s voice to be heard. Everyone associated with this team shares that bitter disappointment at World Rugby’s decision.”
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Theo Dan accused of punch
England star Theo Dan has been accused of “punching” Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallia in the head tonight.
Cruz Malli was attempting to tackle Dan as he went over to score in the second half, as they tumbled together.
Supporters on social media believe that Dan should have been punished for what they believe to be a punch, as his try has been called into some doubt.
Ben Youngs on his final game
Ben Youngs has reflected on his England career after calling it a day following his 127th and final cap in the win over Argentina.
The scrum-half has made more England appearances than any other player in history and although will have hoped that his last game was tomorrow, he is clearly planning a big celebration tonight.
“The game has given me so much. I have got huge friendships and bonds not just in this England team, but people I have played against for years,” Youngs told ITV.
“I have a bucketload of memories and I am very grateful, so thank you everyone. I will have a beer and enjoy myself with the boys tonight.”
England defeat Argentina
England have taken third place at the World Cup with a 26-23 victory over Argentina.
A perhaps quiet affair had been expected but it was anything but, as tries from Ben Earl and Theo Dan coupled with four penalties from Owen Farrell were enough to seal their second win of the tournament over the Pumas.
Steve Borthwick will be proud of his side’s efforts in France, having come into the tournament with lowered expectations but there are building blocks have certainly been formed ahead of next year’s Six Nations.
Argentina score controversial try
Argentina’s try just before half-time has been questioned over a supposed forward pass in the build-up.
Tomas Cubelli darted over but the Pumas were accused of a forward pass that was seemingly missed by the officials.
England captain Owen Farrell was also furious at the try, but for a different reason as he was unimpressed by Cubelli’s move to hit the line.
England lead at half-time
England’s lead has been cut to 16-10 at half-time, after Tomas Cubelli touched down a few minutes before the break.
There was some controversy over the try, as many will feel that the final pass was forward but the officials seem happy enough.
Owen Farrell was not as cheerful, however, hitting out at the Argentina players in the aftermath of their score.
England make strong start
England have raced into a 13-0 lead in the opening stages of their third-place play-off with Argentina.
Captain Owen Farrell knocked over an early penalty before Ben Earl was put through by Marcus Smith to go over.
More England pressure then resulted in another penalty, which Farrell put through the posts.
England vs Argentina underway
We have kicked off in the third-place play-off between England and Argentina, as they compete for the bronze medal.
Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes will retire from England after this game, with the scrum-half making his 127th and final cap for his country.
Steve Borthwick has made a number of changes but captain Owen Farrell remains in the team, alongside Henry Arundell who scored five tries in his World Cup debut against Chile.
BBC and ITV could lose Six Nations
Recent reports have seen fears grow that the Six Nations could leave free-to-air TV from 2026.
Following World Rugby’s announcement of a new tournament, the Nation Championships, broadcasting rights of the two competitions could be grouped together.
BBC and ITV’s contract for the Six Nations expires in 2025, one year before the Nation Championships’ inception, as the rights may be shipped elsewhere.
RFU ban for racial slur
The RFU has banned a former council member from attending any rugby match for 12 months after using a racial slur.
Andrew Sarek accepted the charge but denied that his comment was racist after the union’s written statement claimed that he addressed a volunteer using a slur during England’s match with Wales in August.
Sarek had stood down as an RFU council member for Eastern Counties five or six years ago according to the judgement and insisted that his comment was “crass” but not “racist”.
The disciplinary judgment, however, said: “When the RFU presented Mr Sarek with the facts of the allegations, as we have set out above, he readily accepted that he had committed an offence. Plainly all sides agree that the words ‘Black C’ were used.
“We regard it is as immaterial (for our purposes) whether ‘from the NLD’ were used. It is of note that Mr Sarek did not apologise at the time. Significantly, we found that whilst Mr Sarek accepted that his words were offensive, he had no insight as to the fact that they were racist. We reject the suggestion that they were merely crass.”
Tonight’s action
Rugby is finally back and we have the penultimate game of the World Cup tonight, as England take on Argentina in the third-place play-off.
The match kicks off at 8.00pm and here’s a reminder of both teams.
England: Smith; Steward, Marchant, Tuilagi, Arundell; Farrell (capt), Youngs; Genge, Dan, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Curry, Underhill, Earl.
Argentina: Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, De la Fuente, M Carreras; S Carreras, Cubelli; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Kodela, Petti, Rubiolo, Gonzalez, Kremer, Isa.
South Africa backed in final
Former South Africa World Cup winning head coach Jake White believes that the Springbok can defeat New Zealand tomorrow to lift their fourth world title.
“They know how to handle the pressure, but back-to-back brings its own pressure,” White said.
“Sixteen years ago, France, Paris, same stadium, obviously a lot of sentimental thoughts that go through my head, all the emotions I experienced.
“Finals are such great things to watch because you never know what’s going to happen, you never know how teams will front up in finals.
“It’s a wonderful advert for world rugby that the two teams who have consistently been the best over a long period of time are now playing each other.”
Youngs hid retirement from Borthwick
Ben Youngs has revealed that he hid his retirement from England head coach Steve Borthwick, before being named in the team for their World Cup third-place play-off.
Youngs confirmed that he would be bowing out of international rugby, but even Borthwick was unaware that the scrum-half’s 127th cap for England would be his last.
He explained: “Steve told me that I was playing, then after he told me I was playing, I told him, ‘There’s something you need to know’.
“Because I hadn’t spoken to him about it at all and I wanted him to know. I said, ‘Look, this will be my last game and I’m grateful for the chance to do that’.”
Ireland told they made wrong Sexton call
Ireland icon Ronan O’Gara has claimed that Johnny Sexton should have been substituted off in their quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.
In the last moments of Sexton’s illustrious career, O’Gara was of the opinion that the physical toll of the game was too much for the fly-half.
“Farrell placed a massive emphasis on depth but the elephant in the room was always the support behind Johnny Sexton,” O’Gara wrote in the Irish Examiner.
“Watching that quarter-final back, Johnny Sexton was borderline miraculous to still be on the field late on, but he was blunted by fatigue, so even for a change of pace Crowley was surely the play.”
Jones explains controversial picks
Under-fire Australia boss Eddie Jones has shed some light on the reasons why he did not pick the likes of Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper in his Rugby World Cup squad.
“For those guys, I don’t think they were the right role models for the team going forward,” he said.
“Don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad guys, but you need guys – particularly when you’ve got a team like Australia has at the moment – you need guys who are obsessed with winning, obsessed with being good, and those three are past those stage.”
Borthwick urged to make changes
Lawrence Dallaglio believes that Steve Borthwick could benefit from making changes to his coaching team in order to keep progressing with England into the next Rugby World Cup cycle.
“Borthwick could be minded to make some changes to his coaching squad after the tournament, and Felix Jones is certainly already confirmed as joining from South Africa after the World Cup,” wrote Dallaglio in his Independent column.
“I would throw everything at the England team to make it successful, in terms of whatever resources are required. New Zealand have always tended to do that.
“Just look back to the brains trust of Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith as an example of a super-coach trio.
“Joe Schmidt’s arrival has boosted the All Blacks no end in the last year, and from fifth in the world rankings to the World Cup final represents a big turnaround.
“England are on an upward trajectory now, and perhaps the way to maintain that is to continue to question the status quo and not to settle. “
Aki signs new Ireland deal
Ireland centre Bundee Aki has signed a new two-year deal with the IRFU to continue playing for Ireland and Connacht until 2025.
The 33-year-old has made 52 appearances for his country, scoring 15 tries in the process, and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2021.
Youngs reflects on career
Ben Youngs has insisted that he is making the right decision by retiring from international rugby as he prepares to make his final England appearance tonight.
“There’s not a part of me that thinks ‘what if’, I’m absolutely making the right call,” said Youngs.
“It just feels right. I feel so content. The fact I had this in my head for a long time and then I didn’t hesitate about it makes me realise that it’s absolutely the right decision.
“I’ve also got a young family and all the bits that come with that, so it’s just the right time. I will go back and play my club rugby and I look forward to doing that.
“I’ve got great memories, it’s been a great journey. The 13 years goes just like that. It will be nice to finish on a high on Friday.”
Argentina out for revenge
England lock Maro Itoje believes that Argentina will be motivated by revenge tonight after the Pumas were beaten by Steve Borthwick’s side in the Rugby World Cup pool stages.
“We’re competing for third place at this World Cup so there’s loads to be motivated about,” said Itoje yesterday.
“I guess from their point of view we beat them earlier so they will probably want to turn that around. It’s going to be a great contest, two teams coming off the back of a loss wanting to get it right.”
Jones set to quit Australia
Eddie Jones is reportedly set to quit Australia after some of his trusted allies were axed in the aftermath of the team’s disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign.
The Wallabies have taken the first steps to negotiating his exit, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
It comes after team manager Chris Webb and assistant coaches Jason Ryles, Brett Hodgson, Dan Palmer, Neil Hatley, Pierre-Henry Broncan and Berrick Barnes left the Australia camp.
England make fresh allegation
England have claimed that Bongi Mbonambi has previously used racist language towards Tom Curry after the Springboks hooker was accused of calling him a ‘white c***’ last weekend.
Mbonambi has consistently denied the accusations and was cleared of any wrongdoing by World Rugby following an investigation earlier this week.
The RFU released a statement in response to the decision, which read: “The subsequent World Rugby investigation were informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the autumn Test 2022.
“World Rugby have today announced their decision not to bring charges in respect of either incident.”
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Express Sport‘s coverage of the latest Rugby World Cup news as England prepare to face Argentina in tonight’s third-place match.
We’re also just one day away from the highly-anticipated final between South Africa and New Zealand, with both teams looking to lift the trophy for a record-breaking fourth time.
We’ll be on hand to bring you the biggest stories and latest gossip throughout the day. Stay tuned!
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