SA sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam played down suggestions that South Africa's potential 2023 Rugby World Cup bid could be hurt by the Fifa bribes-for-votes scandal. A wide-ranging US treasury department and FBI investigation into corruption and bribery in the awarding of the 2010 Fifa World Cup to this country has caused deep embarrassment.Against this backdrop the SA Rugby Union intends to bid for the 2023 World Cup, and last weekend a high-level delegation attended a World Rugby briefing session in London to drum up support."We had fruitful meetings and we were well received," Sam said. "There was no discussion about the Fifa issues."I went on to Lausanne because we are bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, but there was no talk of the Fifa issue."The bottom line is hosting the World Cup is about business. It's also about developing the game in all parts of the world."Yesterday marked 100 days to the start of Rugby World Cup 2015 and, while most thoughts are occupied with that tournament, South Africa is also focused on 2023.Official expressions of interest have to be tendered by Monday. The formal bids will be announced in May next year.The delegation to London included Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who has been vociferous in his denials of any wrongdoing on the part of South Africa and the government in the Fifa scandal.To be able to present a strong bid, Saru needs the government to underwrite the associated costs, not least of which is World Rugby's £100-million (about R1.9-billion) fee, a price tag that could escalate.Ireland initially appeared to be the main rivals to stage the 2023 event and there would have been some smiling faces in Dublin as South Africa's image took a pounding over the Fifa claims.That was until the Ireland Football Association were also implicated in another scandal after taking a $5-million payment from Fifa to drop a potential lawsuit.Sam, though, said that World Rugby remained unperturbed by the fraud allegations in the world of football."It must be a win-win for South Africa and for World Rugby, and they were very impressive, because they didn't come with a high-handed approach, making demands," Sam said."We, as Sascoc, are comfortable with where they are and I'm sure Saru will put forward a strong bid."Saru have ticked all the boxes that Sascoc requires, and there is no reason for us to withhold our endorsement of the bid."In fact, we at Sascoc would like to help Saru with [its] bid book. It will fly through our council for approval."Sam suggested that the US might be South Africa's strongest rivals for the right to host the Rugby World Cup in eight years, given World Rugby's desire to grow the game there and Sam's initial viewing of America's plans...