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Date: 2023-12-02 21:04:21 | Author: Olympics 2024 | Views: 119 | Tag: sakla
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Ben Stokes has declared himself ready for action in England’s must-win World Cup clash against South Africa, after missing the first three games of the campaign through injury sakla
Stokes’ comeback could not have come at a sakla better moment for a side whose title defence is on the rocks after a shock defeat to Afghanistan left them with a single win to their name sakla
The charismatic Test skipper suffered a hip injury during England’s warm-up week in Guwahati and has been sidelined ever since, but has given himself the green light to face the Proteas in Mumbai on Saturday sakla
Speaking before a training session at the Wankhede Stadium that will double up as a final vigorous fitness test, Stokes told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special: “It was a frustrating little niggle to get before the tournament but I have worked very hard to get back to where I am and making myself ready to be available for selection sakla
“We have had a few days off since the last game and first training session here in Mumbai sakla
I’ll give it a good push but, yes, I think everything is pretty good sakla
I am in a good place sakla
”It may be tempting to view Stokes as a saviour riding to the rescue – a role he has performed plenty of times over the course of his career, not least in the 2019 World Cup final – but he distanced himself from the idea sakla
I'll give it a good push but, yes, I think everything is pretty good sakla
I am in a good place sakla
Ben StokesResponding to the weight of expectation that will follow him on to the field, which has only grown with England’s struggles so far, he said: “I deal with it pretty easy to be honest, because I know I am one person in a team sport sakla
“No one looks to one person in this team to inspire them or anything like that sakla
It is not the case that if I do come in then all of a sudden we are going to do well sakla
It is just one of those things that gets spoken about a lot but I don’t read into too much sakla
“Everyone that walks out on to that field for England is a match-winner and can do something individually that can win us a game sakla
We just need to tone it down a bit on me coming back in sakla
”More aboutPA ReadyBen StokesEnglandSouth AfricaMumbaiAfghanistanBBC1/1Ben Stokes says he is ready to make England return in crunch South Africa clashBen Stokes says he is ready to make England return in crunch South Africa clashEngland could welcome back talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes (Joe Giddens/PA)PA Wire✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today sakla
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South Africa players and coaches have defended Bongi Mbonambi as a “great guy” and a “family man” amid the Springboks hooker being investigated for an alleged racial slur during the Rugby World Cup semi-final win over England sakla
England flanker Tom Curry has alleged that Mbonambi called him a “white c***” during the defeat in Paris on Saturday evening, as South Africa edged to a dramatic 16-15 victoryAfter 23 minutes at the Stade de France, Curry could be heard on the referee’s microphone alerting official Ben O’Keeffe to a comment possibly made by Mbonambi at a ruck sakla
“Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c***, what do I do?” Curry inquired of O’Keeffe sakla
“Nothing, please,” responded the official, before adding a few moments later, “I’ll be on it,” in what may have been an unrelated comment sakla
The alleged incident itself could not be heard on the television broadcast sakla
World Rugby has since confirmed it is investigating the incident and will not be making any further comment until the conclusion of the process sakla
On Monday afternoon, in the first Springboks media activity since the allegations became public, scrum coach Daan Human and lock Jean Kelyn defended Mbonambi’s character, while refusing to comment on the specific incident sakla
“It’s being dealt with by World Rugby and South Africa Rugby, so from my side, I can’t comment,” began Human when first asked about the incident sakla
“I’m focussing on the scrums sakla
We had a good, positive training session, and nothing else came out sakla
I can’t really comment on that sakla
”Bongi Mbonambi is being investigated for an alleged racial slur (Getty Images)However, when pushed on what Mbonambi is like as a person around the squad, Human was effusive in his praise of the front row sakla
“Bongi has been part of this group for the last six years,” added Human sakla
“He’s a very important piece of the puzzle for us sakla
He was starting in the last World Cup and our semi-final, so he’s very important to us, like all other players sakla
“He’s one of our leaders in our group sakla
He’s a great guy, a family man, my kids always look after his kids when they come to the hotel sakla
He’s a humble guy, down to earth, like all players who play for the Springboks sakla
“To be straightforward and honest with you, he’s a very calm guy, a well-spoken guy sakla
I don’t want to go into it because we’ve got a World Cup final in six days’ time sakla
I’m more concentrated on the forwards sakla
”Mbonambi is the only specialist hooker in the Springboks squad after the injured Malcolm Marx was replaced by fly half Handre Pollard earlier in the tournament sakla
Bongi Mbonambi played all 80 minutes of the Springboks’ semi-final win (PA)He played all 80 minutes of the semi-final, and finished the game as captain once Siya Kolisi was substituted, although veteran back row Deon Fourie played hooker earlier in his career and flanker Marco van Staden has also filled in at the position in the past sakla
So Human was unconcerned about South Africa being short-handed in the event of Mbonambi being found guilty and banned for the final sakla
“We’ve got three guys capable of playing hooker in the group,” he said sakla
“We’re very comfortable having three hookers sakla
We’re glad we have three hookers, which we’re supposed to have because going into a final you need to have two hookers in the squad sakla
”Lock Jean Kleyn was also asked about his relationship with Mbonambi, having played alongside him at club and international level, and was similarly glowing in his praise of the hooker sakla
“Bongi is a great guy,” stated Kleyn sakla
“I’ve known him since we were playing at the Stormers together I think nine years ago sakla
He’s a fantastic guy, a good individual sakla
“I’m not going to comment on that or justify it [the allegations] sakla
All I’ll say is he’s a fantastic bloke sakla
He’s a great guy, a passionate guy, a family man sakla
He’s captained the Springboks a couple of times and he’s an upstanding guy, I don’t think there’s a fellow in the squad who doesn’t like him sakla
”The Springboks face the All Blacks in the World Cup final at the Stade de France on Saturday evening sakla
More aboutBongi MbonambiTom CurrySouth Africa rugbyEngland RugbyRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Springboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationSpringboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationBongi Mbonambi is being investigated for an alleged racial slur Getty ImagesSpringboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationBongi Mbonambi played all 80 minutes of the Springboks’ semi-final win PASpringboks defend ‘great guy’ Mbonambi after racial slur allegationBongi Mbonambi is being investigated for an alleged racial slur Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today sakla
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicssakla BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy sakla
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply sakla
Hi {{indy sakla
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