Tom Curry receives threats following racial slur allegation against Mbongeni Mbonambi

England’s Tom Curry has been subjected to online threats and abuse after making a comment to the referee of alleged racial abuse in his side’s Rugby World Cup semifinal defeat to South Africa.

Curry said he was the subject of an alleged discriminatory remark by Springboks hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi in the match in Paris. World Rugby is investigating the allegation.

According to England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth, Curry has copped online abuse over the allegations.

“Tom is good,” Wigglesworth said. “He’s obviously been thrown into it, but he’s a very, very impressive young man. I know players will have got around him. Steve and the management team have been all over it. I’m sure he’s getting every bit of support that he needs. If selected on Friday he will pour everything into that England shirt as he has done on the other 49 occasions.”

Paul Lewis: A logical look at the Bongi Mbonambi race slur accusation

South Africans defend Mbonambi

South Africa’s sports minister mounted a defense of Mbonambi overnight.

Mbonambi’s participation in Sunday’s World Cup final against New Zealand could be in doubt if he’s found guilty of misconduct.

“Bongi Mbonambi is us. We support you Bongi,” South African Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa wrote on social media.

Although the moment when Mbonambi is meant to have made the remark is unclear, Curry can be heard during the first half of the game asking referee Ben O’Keeffe what he should do if he’s the target of abuse from an opponent.

“Nothing, please,” O’Keeffe said in response. “I’ll be on it.”

South Africa won the game 16-15 with a very late penalty.

Mbonambi and the Springboks have not publicly commented on the allegation against him, although South Africa scrum coach Daan Human was asked about it and how it was affecting Mbonambi’s preparations for the final at a World Cup news conference on Monday.

“I haven’t discussed that (with Mbonambi),” Human said. “But to be straightforward and honest with you, he is a calm guy. He is well spoken and I don’t want to actually go into it because we have a World Cup final in six days’ time.”

Some South African media have claimed the whole episode might have been lost in translation, and that Mbonambi may have been shouting a word in South Africa’s Afrikaans language that sounds like the English expletive Curry accused him of using, but means something else completely.

The Afrikaans word merely means “side” and Mbonambi was shouting it to his teammates to warn them where the ball was and where England was going to attack, the reports said.

World Rugby is under pressure to resolve the disciplinary case well in advance of the final and said on Tuesday it can’t comment until the process has been completed.

Mbonambi is the only specialist hooker in the Springboks squad after Malcolm Marx went home in the pool stage with a knee injury. South Africa has used two flankers — Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden — as reserve hookers since Marx left.

Mbonambi also often steps in as captain of the Springboks late in games — as he did against England in the semifinal — when Siya Kolisi is replaced.

- AP