Rugby World Cup: Outrage over Lukhanyo Am ‘nickname’

gamehuzc October 3, 2023

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“Let’s respect people’s names, please,” say South Africans in response to the “nickname” given to Springboks center Lukhanyo Am.

South Africans are outraged that Springboks center Lukhanyo Am was called “Lucky” — allegedly a truncated version of his name — on the social media site X.

LUKHANYO ‘LUCKY’ AM

SA Rugby Magazine announced his Rugby World Cup call-up in France with the words “Lucky is back!!!”

A picture of the Boks star along with his name and last name were added to the article.

Am, a member of the Springboks’ squad that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup, was left off of the initial 33-man World Cup roster because of a knee injury he sustained in August during South Africa’s victory over Argentina.

After Makazole Mapimpi shattered his cheekbone and eye socket during the Springboks’ 49-18 victory over Tonga on Sunday, October 1, he was called up. This week, Am will join the team in Toulon.

SA SLAMS NICKNAME

Even while it’s unclear whether Am is aware of or has approved of the “nickname,” Mzansi undoubtedly doesn’t. Many online users criticized the message as being insulting.

Masasa Mbangeni, an actress, responded, “But his name is Lukhanyo. With a name like Lukhanyo, where did you acquire the name Lucky from? No guy.”

Please remember to respect people’s names. One X user wrote, “Lukhanyo is a great name with a beautiful meaning.

His name is right there, however you choose to disregard it. It’s so strange that in 2023 we still have to correct people when they use African names. Cringe all the way,” stated another.

Another person remarked, “Your name is your identity. I’m not sure if these men are just disregarding the fact that black people are insulted because they haven’t used Twitter in the last six hours.

Ireland confront idea of colluding with Scotland to boot Springboks out of RWC

In order to eliminate South Africa from the Rugby World Cup, Ireland may have conspired with Scotland, according to assistant coach Mike Catt, in Saturday’s crucial match in Paris.

If Andy Farrell’s team does not win or draw the crucial Pool B match at Stade de France, complicated permutations might be in play.

Both teams would advance to the quarterfinals but the defending champions would be eliminated with a bonus-point win for Scotland by a margin of at least 21 points and an Irish loss bonus point for scoring at least four tries.

After being questioned about the problem on Sunday following his team’s 49-18 victory over Tonga, Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber stated that rugby is “clean” and dismissed a potential “match-fixing” conspiracy.

Catt claims that the coaches of Ireland are fully aware of the possibilities, but, unsurprisingly, he dismissed the idea that his team in “cahoots” with the Scots.

When questioned about Nienaber’s remark concerning match-fixing, he reportedly responded, “I don’t know what to say about that.

“I believe he was questioned, didn’t he? Did he really not state it was match-fixing?

“That noise is little more than background noise. No, we won’t work together with Scotland.

Would we want Scotland to defeat us by 21 points, first and foremost? Would any of the players here, any of us, want Scotland to defeat you by 21 points? Sadly, no.

“Andy is aware of everything that is happening and what has to be done.

“Ultimately, the game must be won by both teams. You will be in an excellent position if you take that action. That’s what we’ll work to do.

Following their 13-8 victory over the Springboks on September 23, Ireland had won a nation-record 16 straight games in addition to 12 of the previous 13 encounters with Scotland.

By winning against their Six Nations rivals once more, they would confidently advance as group winners from the so-called “Pool of Death” and put a stop to any needless nail-biting.

Catt thinks the top-ranked team, which followed up its series victory in New Zealand last summer with a Grand Slam victory, is capable of standing the pressure.

The 2003 World Cup champion and former England international responded, “Yeah, very much so.”

“I believe that our trip to New Zealand the previous year put us in those predicaments, and the Six Nations and our victory in the Grand Slam following that with England and Scotland, those games, put us there.

We know what needs to be done and how to accomplish it, so if we perform well on offense and defense, there’s a potential that things will go our way. However, this is a Test match, and that is why we play the game.