Well, it’s pretty clear that Ashwin Willemse doesn’t consider Naas or Nick his Bok Boks.

It was a weekend to forget for South African Super Rugby sides, with the Stormers losing in Japan and the Bulls taking a pounding in Argentina.

Congrats to the Sharks and the Lions, I guess, but all the results went out the window when Ashwin Willemse walked off the set following the match in Jozi wrapping up.

There are many videos doing the rounds, but let’s break this one down into two parts.

Right off the bat, the tension is clear. Once the initial exchange has taken place, Nick and Naas give their take on the game, but that’s just the precursor for the moment that really set tongues wagging.

From the 2:40 mark, Ashwin has had enough:

Here’s more from Sport24:

A source with knowledge of what transpired in the studio told the weekly newspaper that Mallett, while off-air, had asked the television producer to give Willemse an opportunity to speak first following the Lions’ 42-24 win over the Brumbies in Johannesburg.

Mallett requested this as Willemse did not get a chance to speak following the earlier match between the Sharks and Chiefs in Durban.

The report further claimed Willemse interpreted this request as patronising – which led to his outburst.

According to another source, who seems to sit squarely in the corner of Nick and Naas, the ticking time bomb finally exploded:

Another source told the Afrikaans weekly that there’s been bad blood between Willemse and Mallett for some years.

“It was virtually impossible to work with Ashwin in the last while. Often he would not even pitch up for work commitments and functions. He would confirm for a match only to pull out 10 minutes beforehand. He and Nick hardly talked to each other. Nick is however no saint. But I do feel sorry for Naas because I don’t think he has anything to do with it,” the source said.

Another source also confirmed that there was bad blood between Willemse and Mallett.

“They were very hostile towards each other. Ashwin has never done much preparation. Nick and Naas would do the hard work when it comes to preparation. They would identify and edit video clips which Ashwin would then discuss on the touch screen. He (Willemse) then gets all the credit.”

The source added that Mallett would often make playful jokes with Willemse.

“For example, Nick once burst a packet of chips behind Willemse. Nick was making a joke, but Ashwin didn’t see it that way.”

Of course people are now going over past exchanges with a fine-tooth comb, and here’s one exchange plucked from 2014.

In isolation, it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s the kind of thing that wears you down over time.

It’s one thing to disagree over rugby itself, as Nick and Ashwin do below, but then that grammar correction is the real stinger:

Please watch. #AshwinWillemse

This is September 2014 pic.twitter.com/JWetv6R9EY

— joko jokwane (@AngekeBalunge) May 19, 2018

With social media ablaze with name-calling and picking of sides, it was only a matter of time until the politicians weighed in.

Mmusi:

And Sports and Recreation Minister Toko Xasa, via Times LIVE below:

[She] called on SuperSport to suspend Nick Mallett and Naas Botha while it is investigating an incident which led to former Springbok player Ashwin Willemse walking out of a studio during a live broadcast.

“The continued appearance of Mallett and Botha will be seen as an endorsement of their alleged racist behaviour‚” Xasa said…

In a statement‚ Xasa [below] also condemned the continued behaviour of white entitlement in the sport of rugby.

“This behaviour of entitlement by some white South Africans who continue to think that their whiteness represent better must come to an end. If it was not for a barbaric nonsensical apartheid system that privileged them we could not have implemented [a] quota system to normalise an otherwise abnormal system.”

…“It is clear that Ashwin Willemse was referred [to] as a quota player by his fellow panelist despite his many successes in the field of play.”

If only government officials were suspended the second they were suspected of dropping the ball.

SuperSport have been ignoring the incident in their coverage on the Blitz channel, but behind the scenes they are working to uncover exactly what transpired.

The latest from this morning:

Clinton van der Berg, SuperSport’s spokesperson, told Netwerk24 that they held “preliminary talks” with Willemse on Sunday and will hold talks with Mallett and Botha on Monday regarding the incident.

He said SuperSport was “busy with an investigation to gather all the facts” but “views the incident in a serious manner”.

The company will also seek legal advice regarding the contractual obligations of the three rugby analysts.

When probed whether the issue was of a racial nature, Van der Berg said all aspects of the matter will be investigated on Monday.

It’s fine to wait for all the facts, but you’ll find many people of colour immediately sympathising with Willemse because they can relate to feeling patronised, or worse, by white co-workers.

At least Ashwin doesn’t need that payday, so if SuperSport cannot find a solution that sees him back at the touch screen he won’t be going hungry.

Willemse banked a cool R61,4 million from mining house Gold Fields after wrapping up his rugby career, whilst Naas has had his financial woes splashed all over the news.

There’s still plenty to come in this saga, with all three men at the centre of the affair yet to release a statement, so I guess now we just wait and see.

[sources:sport24&timeslive&sport24]