‘I don’t want to sound bitter’ – Antoine Dupont questions referee’s decisions

France skipper Antoine Dupont questioned some of the calls made by referee Ben O’Keeffe in his side’s 29-28 loss to the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

It was a clash for the ages at the Stade France between hosts and holders, who played out an epic game loaded with some fantastic rugby.

Momentum swung throughout the match with both teams having a chance to seize opportunities to win it. Ultimately the defending champions came out on top by the finest of margins.

“Clear and obvious”

Dupont, who made a sensational return after suffering a facial fracture during the pool stages, felt that some calls did not go his team’s way but underlined that it does not take away from South Africa’s performance.

“What did you think from the outside?” said Dupont. “It’s hard to say because there’s a lot of disappointment and frustration. We want to see the images again – which will give us even more disappointment and even more frustration – but I think some clear and obvious things weren’t whistled.”

“I don’t know if the match was lost at that point, but at crucial moments we could have had a penalty,” added the French skipper. “When you’ve gone forward 60 metres and you’re slowed down in the rucks, it’s pretty easy to whistle. I don’t want to sound bitter, moaning about the refereeing because we lost the match, but I’m not sure the refereeing was up to the challenge.

“That doesn’t take anything away from the South Africans’ great game, who got on top of us at the breakdown. They played a great game.”

Praise for players

France head coach Fabien Galthie felt the match officials could have perhaps dealt with Eben Etzebeth’s deliberate knock-down a bit more harshly but insisted on praising the players instead.

“He’s [referee Ben O’Keeffe] not on his own,” said Galthie. “The TMO and the referees have time to review the images like us and have the right to officiate. I ask my players to be brave at times like this because I understand their frustration. But I won’t comment on it personally.

“I’d rather congratulate them [the players]. We’ve worked hard with them and we’ll continue to work with them. I understand the players’ position, because there are a lot of emotions that are not easy to digest.

“But above all, congratulations to South Africa and their staff. Respect and fair play – may they continue on their way for as long as possible.”

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