SA Rugby boss on Elton Jantjies scandal: ‘It is nonetheless simply gossip’
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Springboks utility Elton Jantjies is once more the centre of consideration for the mistaken causes.
South Africa Rugby president Mark Alexander has labelled media stories about Elton Jantjies as “gossip” and known as on sources to go public with their allegations.
Father of three Jantjies and Springboks dietitian Zeenat Simjee were sent back to South Africa from Buenos Aires after a South African Sunday newspaper broke a story alleging an affair between them in the course of the current collection towards the All Blacks.
The Springboks are at the moment in Argentina getting ready for a Rugby Championship take a look at towards the Pumas this weekend.
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Mark Alexander, president of South Africa Rugby, desires extra details about the Elton Jantjies scenario.
“Now we have very strict group guidelines and the administration group will cope with the problem,” Alexander instructed Netwerk24 in South Africa when pressed on the problem on Wednesday (NZT).
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“I don’t need to dig into anybody’s private life as a result of all the knowledge is rumour proper now. It’s nonetheless simply gossip.
“If individuals are so severe about what occurred, they need to go on the report about what they know.”
The weekend stories had been based mostly on embarrassing allegations from fellow lodge visitors that claimed the 2 shared a room at a visitor home in Mbombela whereas the Springboks stayed elsewhere as they ready to play the All Blacks.
South Africans celebrated the Springboks’ victory over England within the Rugby World Cup ultimate in Yokohama.
South African Rugby reacted swiftly by placing Jantjies and Simjee on a airplane again to South Africa.
“The Springbok administration are conscious of stories relating to Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies and group dietitian Zeenat Simjee between the coaching camp in Sabie and the take a look at match towards New Zealand in Mbombela earlier this yr,” SA Rugby mentioned in an announcement.
“No group protocols had been breached, however the people are returning to South Africa to attend to those private stories and to get rid of any distractions to the group’s preparations for the take a look at towards Argentina.”
Jantjies, a 32-year-old Rugby World Cup winner, has solely responded via a cryptic message on his Instagram account.
“I favor to distance myself every time I’m mad to calm my thoughts in any other case I change into essentially the most heartless particular person you’ll ever meet,” Jantjies posted with the phrases written over {a photograph} of a younger Robert De Niro from The Godfather: Half II.
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Elton Jantjies has been a fan favorite for the Springboks.
The Springboks proceed to sidestep the affair. Their media supervisor Zeena Isaacs instructed the 30-plus journalists on a hookup for the group announcement that there could be no touch upon Jantjies.
“Guys, additionally I’d identical to to attraction to everyone we’re not mentioning something associated to Elton Janjties,” Isaacs mentioned.
“We won’t entertain any questions so can I ask for those who please follow the duty at hand – that’s the squad announcement and the match that’s developing this weekend. That’s basically our purpose right here at this time. Now we have additionally acquired Elrigh Louw who can also be on the desk at this time with coach Jacques Nienaber.”
On the earlier media session assistant coach Deon Davids did his finest to evade questions on Jantjies.
“Now we have handled the scenario in an expert method and our focus is totally on the duty at hand.
“They’re a troublesome group to beat, particularly at residence, and that wants all our focus.”
When Davids was requested whether or not Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and head coach Nienaber understood the accountability they needed to be good function fashions to the nation, he replied: “This can be a very powerful query I’m being requested. Personally, it’s a enormous privilege for me to be representing South Africa, and with it comes accountability.”
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