VIDEO: Dupont - I'm not sure the refereeing was up to the challenge
New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe is in the firing line of French captain Antoine Dupont, who accused him of a sub-standard performance in their one-point (28-29) loss to South Africa in Paris on Sunday – a result that knocked the tournament hosts out of the global showpiece.
An emotional Dupont suggested O’Keeffe should have penalised the Springboks for ‘deliberately’ slowing down French possession when the home side were attacking late during the game at Stade de France.
Other contentious calls included Bok lock Eben Etzebeth’s attempted intercept and flank Kwagga Smith’s turnover at a breakdown.
“What did you think from the outside?” Dupont said in his post-match media briefing.
“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 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.
“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 what was at stake today [Sunday].
“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.”
Coach Fabien Galthié took a more conciliatory tone.
(WATCH as French captain Antoine Dupont spits the dummy about some of referee Ben O’Keeffe’s decisions in their one-point loss to South Africa...)
“He’s [referee Ben O’Keeffe] was not on his own,” the French coach said.
“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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