Springboks shut down Esterhuizen questions ahead of Wallabies Test

The Springboks blocked questions about captain Andre Esterhuizen’s 2012 racial slur incident at Saturday’s press conference. 

Esterhuizen was named South Africa’s captain this week for Sunday’s Test against the Wallabies in Perth, so naturally he was up to face the media, alongside assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, for the traditional captain’s media conference.

However, Springbok media manager Zeena Isaacs addressed the issue before journalists could ask their questions, telling reporters to keep all questions strictly related to the match itself.

“We are not dealing with the issue of the articles that are going around on social media,” Isaacs said. “Please respect that,” she added, closing off the topic entirely.

When a reporter later attempted the question anyway, Isaacs intervened immediately.

“I said we’re not going to entertain questions regarding the issue,” she repeated.

THE 2012 INCIDENT EXPLAINED

Esterhuizen, then 18, played for Klerksdorp High School against Potchefstroom Gymnasium in 2012. He was found guilty of directing a racial slur at coach Thabo Molete during that match. A disciplinary panel banned him for a year, suspended for six months, contingent on a life skills course. He also missed that year’s Craven Week tournament as a result of the ban.

Esterhuizen denied using the slur himself during a 2017 interview with Netwerk: “I didn’t shout out that slur. Quite a few of the players and spectators did,” he said at the time.

He claimed even match officials supported his account of events.

ERASMUS EXPLAINED THE CAPTAINCY DECISION

Coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his starting side for the Perth Test. With regular captain Siya Kolisi unavailable, Erasmus turned to Esterhuizen for leadership. He explained the decision as part of building depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

“We would love to see him in this situation against a really strong Australian team,” Erasmus said.

He praised Esterhuizen’s willingness to embrace different roles throughout his career. Esterhuizen becomes the 68th player to captain the Springboks in the team’s history.

ESTERHUIZEN DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM KOLISI

Esterhuizen spoke about the responsibility of leadership without addressing the specific controversy directly.

“I’m taking it on as an honour, and I’m very happy about it,” he said. “Just to always see him [Siya Kolisi] composed and calm, doesn’t matter what the situation is,” Esterhuizen said.

Former Leopards president Andre May declined to comment when approached about the resurfaced incident this week.

“I was the president then, and I’m not the president now,” May said.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander confirmed the governing body would issue a separate statement on the matter.