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| Bongi Mbonambi: Getty Images |
South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi will start Saturday's Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand after a ruling that there was "insufficient evidence" he used a racial slur towards Tom Curry. England flanker Curry claimed he was abused during the Springboks' 16-15 semi-final victory last Saturday. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) said Curry had told the investigation that Mbonambi had abused him during England's match against South Africa last November.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) also stated that World Rugby did not put the evidence before an independent disciplinary panel and "denied the opportunity" to hear Curry's account. The flanker has suffered online abuse for reporting the incident, which England captain Owen Farrell described as "unacceptable."
World Rugby accepted that Tom Curry made the allegations in good faith and that there is no suggestion that the allegation was deliberately false or malicious. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi has contacted Curry and hopes the abuse will stop.
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has named the most experienced South African team ever to face the All Blacks in Paris on Saturday. Nienaber makes two changes to the XV that started the semi-final win over England, with half-backs Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard replacing Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok. Fly-half Pollard came on as a surprise replacement for Libbok after just 31 minutes of the semi-final and kicked a late match-winning penalty.
South Africa has attempted a 7-1 split of forwards to backs on the bench, with Willie le Roux as the only back replacement. Lock Jean Kleyn and number eight Jasper Wiese are on the bench, but neither have yet to feature in the knockout stages. New Zealand and South Africa are bidding to become the first nation to win the World Cup for a fourth time.
Line-up
South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Nyakane, Kleyn, Snyman, Smith, Wiese, Le Roux.
