FRANCE CAPTAIN ANTOINE Dupont has questioned the refereeing during his side’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa at Stade de France.
Dupont is usually a reserved figure in this regard, so his words were certainly uncharacteristic after les Bleus’ dramatic 29-28 loss to the Springboks.
New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe was the man in the middle in a game that featured only 12 penalties, with six conceded by each side. South African lock Eben Etzebeth was yellow-carded for a high tackle in the first half.
Dupont was asked about the refereeing in tonight’s post-match press conference, which was heavily delayed due to French president Emmanuel Macron speaking to les Bleus in their changing room after the defeat.
“What did you think?” replied Dupont to the French journalist who raised the subject of O’Keeffe’s refereeing.
“It’s hard to talk about things because there’s a lot of frustration,” said Dupont.
“There are clear and obvious situations which were not whistled but I don’t want to be angry or seem like a bad loser.
“I’m not sure the refereeing was up to the level of what was at stake.”
The French captain added that there is a team of officials around the main referee who can help him to make decisions, while Dupont also stressed that he didn’t want to take away from South Africa’s winning performance.
France boss Fabien Galthié also hinted at his frustration about the refereeing, without committing to a direct criticism.
“We have been working with them since the start of the week,” said Galthié.
“I don’t want to go into that matter. I understand the players’ frustration, we have the right to be sad this evening, but also you must understand my position.”
Asked for his emotions after France’s exit from their home World Cup, Galthié painted a picture of a team who will be hurting.
“I’m thinking of our supporters, families, people who believe in us daily, who were around us, who put in all the work,” said the France boss. “The players, of course, our France group which tonight has to be brave.
“There are so many key moments. When you’re leading 7-0 and [Eben] Etzebeth cut off the ball. That was a strong moment for us and we weren’t able to finish off. Soon afterwards it was 7-7. Those are key moments that add up. So many things went on.”
Galthié added that tighthead prop Uini Atonio and second row Romain Taofifenua, both 33, will retire from international rugby in the wake of this World Cup exit.
They’re not wrong. Too many incidents ignored by the TMO.
@Seamus Quinn: spot on.. I wondered why replays were kept to a minimum on a lot of calls be bad or good, has to be said but its not a good world cup for refereeing ,, too many big head shots with 2 red cards, seemed like they didn’t want to know and get on with it… so much for player safety
@Joe Mc Dermott: @Joe Mc Dermott: was plenty in our game also. Ringrose caught a clear shot to the head that wasn’t looked at. The lineout was a shambles that wasn’t dealt with, either no gap or being thrown across. Even henderson had to put the nz mark down foe Barnes before a lineout. Too many times nz player arrived at the breakdown and didn’t contest the ruck just put hand into it to slow up jgp for a second. Officiating was a complete and utter joke. Forward pass for nz 1st try. Clear neck roll infont of the linesman on jvdf in build up to nz 2nd try. You expect some things to go against ye but It very much seemed to be a case of just let them play. Possibly why southern hemisphere team do better in ko rugby they are willing to take risks
Can’t help but feel that this sport is in serious trouble. To have the host nation and number one team dumped out in the QFs speaks of seriously bad organisation. The unions are in serious decline in England, Wales and Australia. To have a Southern Hemisphere duopoly who seem to swap the trophy between them every four years in a sport which is only played to a good standard by eight teams can’t really be a good thing.
Thought okeefe was really good.. There were some 50/50 calls that went both ways. Can’t complain that match was lost becuase of the ref.. Was a flip of a coin at the end of the day as to who would win right up until the final whistle …
@Stuart: South Africa should have been penalised more at the breakdown…they got away with a lot
@Stuart: I thought both calls on Estzbeth were correct but the final score for Sa was an incorrect call player was clearly using his hands on the ground to support his weight call should have gone against him & its a reverse result, seems to have been a lot of calls that prior to this tournament were much more clearly reffed !
@Stuart: thought he missed a lot for both teams.
@Tom Murphy: we had no complaints about O’Keefe when we won against SA, in that game he let the game flow…. He let both sides get away with a bit. France had their chances. One could argue it wasn’t an odd ref miss that lost it, it was Kolbe charging down a conversion that won it.
@Phill Brown: you saw this in the replay, not in real time. So easy to judge after the fact. O’Keefe had a good game. Let’s stop blaming referees.
@Phill Brown: head on head is a red card. There was no mitigation
@Patrick O’Sullivan: I’m sorry but in this particular case there was Sa player was practically at half his own height when they clashed, I’d be more concerned about why the incident in the Ire / nz game where Aki gets a bang to the head wasn’t shown properly, yes we want a quick game but not at the detriment of the correct decision’s being made, not sure I can put myself through watching the game again to pick out those decision’s again !
Their issue seemed to be around O’Keefe coaching the Boks on the field. Shouting at them to release rather than then just penalising the infringement. I think Johnny had the same issue with him previously. It’s an interesting issue.
@Andrew A: he shouted equally at both teams. He had a good game
Completely agree. O’keefe didnt fancy his country facing the French again. Either way I think that was the final now that we got knocked out. Best two teams gone at the QF stage imo..
@Dave Moran: that’s just trash talk. I am sure you can do better.
I think it is totally unacceptable, unfair and unprofessional to blame the referee. The referee and his linesmen are human, and not computerized robots, and therefore subject to err. This game could’ve gone either way! Saying that, I do believe that referees tend to favour top tier teams when they play against bottom tier teams like Fiji and Samoa.
O’Keefe refereeing was very good. He kept the game flowing and it was some contest in the end, marvellous game of rugby. People were complaining he favoured the French and others SA. So he let go the 50/50 calls and the game flowed. He missed a few for sure but it’s a game run by humans and great at that!
Great game but difference is goal kick missed by France and drp kick by South Africa.
As a Kiwi can say if we get to final we would much rather play French in France even if we lose.
We play South Africe quite often, but really love playing the French when the occasion arises.
Usual french referee blaming. Every game the lose its the refs fault. Give me a break.