[imagesource:here]

Aside from the non-stop kicking from the base of the ruck, there’s never a dull moment with the Springboks.

Hours before the Springboks took on the Pumas in Argentina this weekend, reports surfaced that several Springboks had recently tested positive for cocaine.

Those were quickly shot down by SA Rugby and coach Jacques Nienaber questioned the timing of the news going public.

There’s also the small matter of Elton Jantjies and Springbok dietitian Zeenat Simjee being sent home following allegations that the two had been romantically involved ahead of the Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks.

Aside from a few cryptic posts on social media, Jantjies remained publicly silent before releasing an official statement on Friday. Here’s Sport24:

“I am aware that newspaper articles about my recent behaviour caused a lot of disappointment, distress, and anger to many people, and I apologise unreservedly to everybody I hurt or disappointed, my teammates, the Springbok management team, and SA Rugby,” he wrote in a statement…

“I sadly let myself, my family, and the rugby-loving people of this country down, and I deeply regret my actions”.

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am serious about doing everything in my power to change my behaviour,” he said.

While that sounds like an admission of guilt, Jantjies strenuously denied that he had conducted an affair with Simjee:

“Simjee was never with me at either of the two guest houses that I stayed at. She is a good friend and nothing more,” he said. “That her good name is now being dragged through the mud is a shame”.

Simjee also released a statement on Friday.

She called on Rapport, the Afrikaans outlet which first reported on the alleged affair, to “retract and apologise” for the damage that it had caused.

Some of her full statement below via IOL:

I chose to maintain a dignified silence while the media storm was raging, as I am severely traumatised by what has transpired.

Let me unequivocally state that I am shocked at the level of sensational journalism from the newspaper that first published the article. I am devastated by the fact that a journalist and his newspaper could publish such damaging allegations on false and baseless hearsay. It is disappointing…

The weekend ahead of the test week in Mbombela, I had been with my parents dealing with family bereavement. So, the allegations of me spending time with Elton Jantjies at a guesthouse is devoid of any truth.

Simjee added that she wants to put the incident behind her as quickly as possible so that she can return to working with the Springboks.

Simjee’s statement cites July 31 as the date she was with her family. Rapport maintains that she stayed with Jantjies at one guesthouse from July 29 to August 1 and in the other for a few days from August 1.

Iva Jantjies, Elton’s wife, gave an interview last week where she said she would “probably not” remain romantically involved with the Springbok flyhalf.

Iva (below) is in Japan, where it appears that her husband’s career may soon be coming to an end. City Press reports:

Jantjies could lose his contract with the Japanese club UrayasuD-Rocks at the end of the year… [Iva] had to write a letter asking that his contract not be summarily suspended…

The Japanese club has seemingly had enough of him. It will keep him until December – when the school year comes to an end – and then the Jantjieses will have to pack their bags.

Rapport has not been backing down in the face of these public denials from Jantjies and Simjee.

The outlet claims its sources once more confirmed that Jantjies and Simjee had stayed together at the Mbombela guesthouses ahead of that test match.

While Elton hasn’t denied being there, he says he was alone:

Ristic [Iva’s maiden surname] wanted to know how he blew R26 000 by himself…

One source said there was a private investigator from Jantjies at the guesthouses last week. It is not clear what they were looking for…

When Ristic heard about the allegations, she sent Simjee, whom she says she once considered to be a friend, a message on Instagram to ask: “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

At that point, she claims she was blue-ticked by Simjee and then blocked.

This saga turned messy a long time ago and shows no signs of slowing down.

Hopefully, the truth comes to light soon and those who may not be involved can clear their names.

[sources:sport24&iol&citypress]