In a stark turn of events at the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, French captain Antoine Dupont expressed his dissatisfaction with the refereeing standard as demonstrated by New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe. The adverse judgement has been a cornerstone following France’s narrow one-point defeat to the reigning champions, South Africa.
The defeat was a substantial setback for the tournament favourites and hosts who slipped to a 29-28 loss against the champions. The riveting match resounded within the spectators as Dupont returned from an injury that threatened his tournament future. In his post-game reflections, Dupont shared his belief that O’Keeffe had erred considerably.
His discontent wedged amidst frustration and disappointment, further deepened by certain decisions in the match. Dupont cautiously questioned the level of refereeing in the contest, steering clear of harboring resentment.
The incident that brought O’Keeffe under scrutiny surfaced early in the match when an apparently biased call favoured the South African Springboks. Defending on their own tryline, the Springboks, led by lock Eben Etzebeth, intercepted a pass from French winger Damien Penaud. This action prompted O’Keeffe to rule that the ball had been deflected backwards.
Had a penalty been called, it could have resulted in a penalty try, a probable yellow card, and a sizable shift in the game’s dynamics. Instead, the Springboks exploited the decision, establishing an equal footing in less than two minutes.
Throughout the thrilling competition, Etzebeth had an impactful presence, marking ten tackles on a night filled with brutal impact. O’Keeffe’s caution resulted in only six penalties per team, the fewest of the four quarter-finals.
Fabien Galthié, French head coach, resonated with his players’ frustration, urging friends and families to maintain courage after the loss. He empathized with their loyal fans, families, and the team’s dedicated staff, asking them to stay brave.
France’s team manager Raphael Ibanez acknowledged the missed opportunities that hindered their hopes of winning the trophy for the first time. The team’s inability to convert potential try-scoring opportunities into points greatly contributed to their defeat.
The poignant realization was summed up by Ibanez’s comforting words encouraging the French contingent, “We have to get up and stand up and go for the next fight. We have other games coming, not in this World Cup, but we have to still believe in the team”. Their focus now pivots to future matches with the French team’s faith steadfastly intact.
