Yes, but we all know that she didn't mean to imply the Springboks were gay. I wouldn't go as far as Rebekah and claim she wasn't aware of the homosexual associations that word carries, that seems unlikely to me too (though who knows). But simply from the context of the statement, it seems obvious that she was calling the Springboks, you know, wusses, weaklings, mocking their failure to beat the Wallabies. And that part is indeed different from the US, where I find it hard to imagine people in macho sports - basketball, say - using the term "faggot" to someone they have no reason to think is gay. But the context of her statements if nothing else should make clear to you that evidently she uses the word in a different way.


I wouldn't analyze the wording of her apology overmuch. She got into an unexpected shitstorm, had a sponsor drop her, so panicked and most likely had her manager or someone draft an apology. And being active in politics as you are, I imagine you'll agree with me that the most important part of a public apology is making clear as fast as possible that you're entirely taking back what you said. Going with a "yes, I said it, but that word has a different meaning where I'm from" defense risks making people think that you don't mean the apology.