A round up of what some of South Africa’s leading Sunday papers are saying, including an update on Eben Etzebeth’s controversial night out in Langebaan.
The front page in Rapport newspaper focuses on the controversy surrounding Etzebeth after the Bok lock was accused of racial abuse during an incident in Langebaan last weekend. According to the story written by Dawie Boonzaaier, West Coast police have handed a dossier with statements about two assault charges against Etzebeth to the National Prosecuting Authority. The director of Public Prosecution will now decide whether Etzebeth should be prosecuted, which could take between four and six weeks. Etzebeth, who denied the claims in a Facebook post and was reported to the Human Rights Commission this week, was named in the 31-man squad for the World Cup and has been publicly backed by coach Rassie Erasmus.
Staying withn Rapport, the backpage story looks at the potential Springbok 23 that could face Japan in the final World Cup warm-up match in Saitama next Friday. According to writers Hendrik Cronje and Brenden Nel, Erasmus will play the same 23 as would face the All Blacks in their World Cup opener on 23 September. Rapport says that flank Kwagga Smith could potentially sit out both matches as Erasmus would bring captain Siya Kolisi back into the starting lineup, with Francois Louw as the loose-forward replacement. Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane and Beast Mtawarira are, according to the report, favoured to start in the front row.
Meanwhile, there is potential the Schalk Brits would be considered as loose-forward cover during the World Cup. Brits was selected as one of the three hookers in the 31-man squad, but could play in the pool matches against Namibia or Canada in the loose-trio.
