This weekend, a few things stood out from the Bok performance.

Firstly, we won back to back matches, which has been something of a rarity over the preceding seasons.

Secondly, it’s clear that SuperSport are doing everything in their power to avoid having an in-studio panel.

Anyone who has ever worn the green and gold seems to be pitchside, and presenters spend a good hour or so doing interviews from the field itself once the final whistle blows.

That probably has a lot to do with the fact that SuperSport have yet to offer a statement on their probe into the matter, even though sources have leaked how things played out before, during and after the now infamous walk-off on May 19.

Now, with the clock ticking, there’s been another twist. Sport24 with the latest:

SuperSport were due to receive the independent review into the Ashwin Willemse studio walkout storm later on Monday … but it will be minus vital testimony from the key source of the pundit and former Springbok wing himself.

Sport24 has learnt from reliable sources that Willemse, who sensationally downed his microphone during live Super Rugby studio coverage on May 19 and walked out of the studio, has not presented evidence to the probe, under the charge of Advocate Vincent Maleka [below].

Contacted for comment, Maleka confirmed that he would be handing in his report on Monday – he had earlier asked for an extra week to complete it after an initial deadline of June 11 had been set.

But he would not say whether all relevant parties in the dispute had presented statements to him, advising Sport24 to contact attorney Dario Milo, a specialist in corporate and tax dispute resolution.

He could not immediately be reached.

Willemse was non-committal when asked whether he had presented a statement to the inquiry, saying: “At this point I have no comment on the matter. I would be willing to chat to you at a later stage … you have my number.”

It’s obvious that the other two men in the thick of it – Nick Mallett and Naas Botha – have been advised to avoid talking to the media, and the time it has taken to complete the review has done little to diminish the public’s interest in the affair.

Those familiar with the review, who have chosen to remain anonymous, do offer some insight into what it will contain:

According to sources, no evidence of race-related misconduct by Mallett or Botha will be presented in the findings, and that the pair, who have been inactive since the uproar although on full remuneration, should soon be reinstated to studio roles…

Willemse is likely to be offered retention of his SuperSport duties as well, but the pair [Nick and Ashwin] are unlikely to be placed in the same studio panel henceforth by mutual request.

Often a staple presence at the studio touchscreen, Willemse may also be offered more in the way of pitch-side presentation at major SA-hosted matches.

I would be completely OK with Naas being shown the door, because he really doesn’t offer much in the way of insight, but I guess for some he’s like a comfort blanket.

Then again, the penny has dropped – you might remember this video from last year:

Yup, I feel you.

I guess now we just sit and wait for that report to be handed in, and for SuperSport to comment on the matter, but it does sound like it’s going to leave a few questions unanswered.

For now, it’s pitchside pundits and nothing resembling a touch-screen analysis.

[source:sport24]