Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson is calling for World Rugby to act swiftly in resolving their investigation into Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi.
The South African hooker is alleged to have racially abused England flanker Tom Curry during their Rugby World Cup semi-final.
World Rugby says it's taking the allegation "extremely seriously" but won't make any further comments until the review has been completed.
How long that takes is of concern for Wilson who told AM, he wants the matter resolved "quickly" so that it doesn’t continue to overshadow this Sunday's (NZ time) final between the All Blacks and South Africa.
"Cleary this is a difficult situation," said former All Black Jeff Wilson.
"I'm hoping it's not true, I really am, but World Rugby has to act quickly. Because the longer it hangs around the less talk about the contest we are going to have on the weekend.
"If something is to happen out of this and he is ruled out, it's certainly going to impact the Springboks."
If Mbonambi is found guilty, that would leave the defending world cup champions without a specialist hooker in their squad.
That could severely disrupt South Africa at scrum and lineout time and give the All Blacks a significant advantage in the World Cup final on Sunday.
As World Rugby deliberates and reviews the evidence available, former All Blacks captain Mike Brewer has questioned whether the process will be conducted correctly.
"I'll be very surprised at the process, primarily because if Bongi doesn't play, then South Africa will enter into that test without a hooker.
"I'm picking there will be inconsistencies again with this whole process. If he said what he said, then he should be banned, there's no doubt about that.
"But it's a World Cup final and things happen. I put a massive question mark on whether the process is conducted properly."
