Skinstad: 'It's rugby - not tiddlywinks'

FRIDAY, NOV. 16: Bobby Skinstad is desperate to win the World Rugby Classic tomorrow — and warned South Africa won’t change their combative style for the Bermuda showpiece.

It’s been another wonderful week of rugby on the island, with crowds treated to some superb, closely-fought games.

But the event has also featured the unsavoury side of the game after an off-ball incident saw Classic Springboks’ Robbie Kempson arrested for alleged assault and USA’s Leif  Gibson fly back to the States with a spinal injury.

Kempson yesterday learned he will not face charges and is now in the frame to play in the final (see page 3).

Asked whether the incident has overshadowed the event, Skinstad, speaking before it was known no charges would be brought, said: “Not at all, rugby’s rugby. It’s not tiddlywinks. Whatever happened, I hope it will clear itself up really quickly.”

USA’s Kevin Witcher — who played 80 times for the Eagles’ 7’s side — said Kempson was ultimately in the wrong.

He said: “I guess what we’d say is there are elements of the game that are meant to be rough — tackles, rucks and scrums. If it happens outside of that it really shouldn’t be condoned.”

He added:  “Obviously, Leif is a close teammate of ours and nobody wants anything like that to happen to anyone on the field.

“We are very concerned for him and for the unfortunate sequence of events that precipitated that. Having said that we are here to play rugby. We wished Leif was on the field with us on Wednesday night but he wasn’t so we stepped on the field in his honour and did the best we could.”

South Africa showed little sign that the controversy had affected them in the semi-final and ruthlessly dispatched defending champions Argentina 17-7 in torrential rain.

And Skinstad, 36, said while the veterans tournament is a fun competition, winning is very much on the agenda.

He said: “Everyone comes here and wants to have a good time — it’s a wonderful tournament — but everyone secretly wants to win, you know. So it was big for us because Argentina have played great rugby the last couple of years and we saw them as a big hurdle in getting to the final. That’s the way they played too — they showed guts and effort.”

In the 25th Classic final, a confident-sounding South Africa will go looking for their fifth title.

Skinstad, a 2007 World Cup winner who won 42 caps for the Springboks, added: “The boys have bandaged themselves together and we’ll put out the best we’ve got.

“We always fancy our chances — there’s only two teams on a rugby field. Maybe if the conditions are a little better we can use some of our backs a bit.

“The rain really got to everyone in the semi but I think we stood up nicely.

“Everyone’s getting fitter and stronger and the guys here are a good example.

“The Aussies have got some players that have come through and I’ve played against for years and years but it’s nice to see the guys keeping themselves in shape and also enjoying themselves.”