Siya Kolisi blasts backlash over Jaden Hendrikse as ‘banter’ after Munster URC drama during shootout
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SOUTH AFRICA skipper Siya Kolisi has leapt to the defence of Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.
It comes in the wake of the controversial URC penalty shootout win over Munster in Durban.
The two-time World Cup winning captain rubbished online speculation that his teammate was faking cramp to delay Jack Crowley’s attempt.
Kolisi said: “We stand with Jaden. He is competitive. There has been banter everywhere in the game — we’ve seen it from players from all over the world.
“There is always a big thing about it, but it’s normal. These things happen and people can say what they like. It’s banter between two players, and that’s all it is — and that’s what Jaden is.
“From our side, he knows we’re backing him all the way. He cramped - you can see he was definitely cramping.”
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Kolisi also hinted at double standards, appearing to reference Johnny Sexton’s World Cup altercation with Rieko Ioane.
He also alluded to similar antics from some Munster players in the past.
The flanker went on to further his teammate.
He added: “I get people saying stuff to me in the game, I don’t moan about it.
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"We just carry on, or you react however you want to react. It is what it is. We are ing him, we stand with Jaden.
“You’ve seen the ones that happened during the World Cup, and some guys who were on the field there have also done it to other people.
“Let’s get over it — it’s rugby, it’s entertainment. That’s what people want.”
The URC semi-finals now see Leinster host reigning champions Glasgow and the Bulls vs Sharks in an all South African clash.