Mapimpi explains comical blunder

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Star wing Makazole Mapimpi has revealed what led to the slip-up when he swore live on air when the Springboks returned from their World Cup triumph.

At a press conference aired live from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg just a few days after the Boks had overcome England in the final, Mapimpi used the F-word when answering a question, before quickly apologising.

Explaining the incident during an Instagram Live chat, which has been translated from Xhosa into English by RugbyRocks.com, Mapimpi opened about the mistake.

‘We drank so much we almost cleaned out the bar,’ he said in reference to the post-match celebrations after the final.

‘We never slept on the flight [back to South Africa]. Imagine being on a 12-hour flight having not slept at all while drinking the previous night.

‘Then we got to the airport – I have never seen anything like that. The first thing I did, I lifted my hands as though as I was praying. Right there I knew I was in big trouble.

‘We then climbed the stage. I was so hungover I couldn’t even feel my own body. Then came the question … 

‘I responded: “I went to my room afterwards and slept. Maybe after five minutes, I was like, ‘F**k, I don’t think I’m going to …’ 

‘Then I said, “Oops! Sorry!” 

‘The minister of sport [Nathi Mthethwa] was right next to me. The thing is – I was hungover and I thought to myself, “Everyone will just have to forgive me”.

‘I checked my phone afterwards – the whole of South Africa had flooded it. 

‘I think I was forgiven because of the try I scored in the final. I think if it wasn’t for that try, it would have been a different story because that was a massive bomb – I dropped the wrong bomb!’ 

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

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SA Rugby magazine