Asked about Ben O’Keefe’s refereeing a few minutes after the final whistle against South Africa (28-29), Antoine Dupont first referred the question to our colleague at a press conference: “And you , What did you think ? » Then the captain of the Blues, with a black look, did not hide his bitterness on the subject: “There are still actions… There is a lot of frustration after this match and we are going to see images again which will give us even more frustration I think. There are clear and obvious things to whistle about that haven’t been.
“When you have advanced sixty meters and you slow down a ruck… There are still things that are easy to whistle”
I don’t know if the match is lost at that moment but in the crucial moments. When you have advanced sixty meters and you slow down a ruck… There are still things that are easy to whistle. I don’t want to be the bitter person who complains about the arbitration because he lost, but I’m not sure that the arbitration was up to the level of the challenge today. »
“I think it’s not one person who referees, there are assistants, TMOs (video referees). They have the time to watch the images and the right to participate in the refereeing,” then declared the coach Fabien Galthié, who had mentioned facts of the game a little earlier in a press conference, in particular this action cut by Eben Etzebeth while the Blues had a 14-0 ball at the start of the match. “I can understand the frustration of the players,” added Galthié. Be brave. I will move on and accept it, as has already happened with decisions in the past. »
“That doesn’t take anything away from the great performance of the South Africans, who brought their experience to bear and produced a great second half. I don’t want to take it away from them,” said Dupont, as if to calm things down. Galthié then spontaneously spoke again on the subject: “To finish on arbitration, I would not go on that ground. I would congratulate the refereeing body. We worked with them before the World Cup and during the World Cup. We will continue to work like this. You have to understand the position of the players and understand my position immediately. There is frustration that is difficult to digest. I understand. But we must say well done to the South Africans with respect and fair play. »
