“Were any trees harmed during the incident?”
The headline in Sydney Morning Herald reads Springbok apologises for high school urination, and they have the player, fair dinkum, bang to rights.
South Africa are over in Australia for The Rugby Championship and licking their wounds after losing to the Wallabies in Adelaide, last weekend.
Jacques Nienaber’s side are also with Lukhanyo Am and Handre Pollard for the remainder of the championship, on a two-game losing spin and having to spend some time dealing with queries about a player taking a pee at ‘an isolated location near trees’.
Yes, the Boks were training at Randwick Boys’ High School in preparation for their second tilt against Australia when one of their playing squad had to pee, and was caught short. We will let SMH take up the running of the tale:
‘Sources familiar with the incident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald an incident took place during a training session at the school on Monday afternoon.
‘A Springboks team management official said the player walked away during training to an isolated location near trees ‘as it was unfortunately an urgent call of nature’. The player apologised to the school headmaster.
‘Sources say the incident was witnessed by the school’s principal, Lance Raskall, and one other adult. South African management was quickly alerted to the incident after a complaint was made. The tourists were told their behaviour was not appreciated given the school had been kind enough to let the reigning world champions use their facilities.’
While it would have been better for all involved if the unnamed player had located a toilet, this is hardly Blood-Gate or the All Blacks’ food poisoning ahead of the 1995 World Cup final.
Needless to say, some rugby fans have been having a crack back at the exclusive, with many South Africans giving spiky replies. One rugby fan wrote:
‘Mate. I like your work and I get you have a job to do. But really? Sounds like he was discreet about it and it’s something that we see happen every weekend. Surely we have better things to focus on with an epic Test just a few days away in a brand new stadium.’
Others were a little more jocular with their replies, including South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus.
Great article Tom. Hard hitting stuff. Were any trees harmed during the incident?
— Titan (@dasiztitan) August 31, 2022
Rassie Erasmus responds to Springbok urination story
Always engaged and mostly entertaining on Twitter, Rassie Erasmus was quick to weigh in on the training urination story. The former Munster DOR stated:
‘We always worry and listen to South African people and totally understand and accept the negative and positive advice and comments!
‘So again, South Africa thank you for always being there for us! We only accept South African pressure!!! Tom, I don’t think many South African fans will take you serious man.’
We always worry & listen to 🇿🇦people & totally understand & accept the negative & positive advice & comments! So again 🇿🇦thank you for always being there for us! We only accept 🇿🇦 pressure !!! Tom I dont think many 🇿🇦 fans will take you serious man👇🏿 🐑 https://t.co/CMFnu5DVbR
— Rassie Erasmus (@RassieRugby) August 31, 2022
Ahead of this weekend’s match in Sydney, Nienaber has made eight changes to his starting Springboks team, with Jaden Hendrikse, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Jesse Kriel and Willie Roux among those refreshing the starting XV.
