France – South Africa: transformation blocked, forward voluntary… Ben O'Keeffe's refereeing is controversial

Despite superiority South Africa in the fight, several decisions by the referee could have tipped the match.

France 28: 29

South Africa Live

08:10 – Why didn't the referee blow the whistle? Ahead on the Etzebeth interception?

At the start of the match, after a thunderous start, an Etzebeth forward put an end to the game. French madness, but why didn't the referee whistle? ? After watching the action, we realize that Etzebeth really tried to kill her. to bring the ball back into his court and made it fall behind him. Ben O’Keeffe therefore logically left the game continues, allowing the Springboks to keep the ball and equalize in stride.

07:48 – Video: Dupont responds to the arbitration controversy

"There is a lot of frustration. There are clear and obvious things about it. whistle which have not been whistled. When you have an advance of 60m and you slow down a ruck, it’s easy to do. adjust. 'I don't want to act bitter. I'm not sure that the arbitration was correct. at the level this evening. Point out that this does not take away anything from the situation. the performance of the South Africans who dominated us; in the fight."

07:15 – Did Kolbe leave before? The controversial video

On the images from TF1, it seems that the first movement of Thomas Ramos' foot triggers Kolbe's race, except, the "real" The scorer's run appears to be triggered a few seconds later.

07:00 – A controlled transformation that is controversial

Thomas Ramos will long remember his transformation controlled by Kolbe but what do the rules say? "All players on the opposing team must retreat behind their goal line and must not cross it before the kicker begins his run." "When the kicker begins his run or begins his kick, the players of the opposing team may charge or jump to try to prevent the success of the goal," specifies the regulation .

01:00 – The summary of the match

Disillusionment for the Blues at the Stade de France! While this quarter-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was supposed to be a celebration, the shock against the 2023 Rugby World Cup was supposed to be a celebration. South Africa turned to the nightmare. If the meeting has started well; with a try from Baille in the second minute, a try from Arendse on the counter in the process showed told the French that the Boks were not there; to make up the figure. After numerous tests in the first period (six in total) where the two nations surrendered blow for blow, the players of Fabien Galthié went head to head the break (22-19). Returning from the locker room, Thomas Ramos allowed his teammates to widen the gap before Eben Etzebeth flattened in force to restore the advantage to the South Africans (25-26, 67th). In the end, two penalties were imposed. registered to bring the final score to 28-29 in favor of Jacques Nienaber's men. Thanks to this success where the Boks took advantage indiscipline and lack of efficiency tricolor, South Africa will face England next Saturday for a place in the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

00:45 – Two players hang up

After the elimination last night, two executives who have known the XV of France for many years announced that retire internationally: prop Uini Atonio and second row Romain Taofifenua. The coach Fabien Galthié announced : "We already have two players who stop: Uini and Romain told us their retirement."

00:30 – Ramos: "We lost against someone stronger than us"

Interrogated; by our colleagues from TF1, Thomas Ramos returned to what he missed to the Blues to win this evening: "What did we miss? It’s hard to answer. Maybe be a little more precise when we held the ball. They fed on our mistakes. Maybe a little more success too. It’s definitely cruel. We are very disappointed and dejected this evening. But it’s sport. There are a few facts of the game that allowed them to stay in our camp. We did lots of good things, but it wasn't enough. It's a big team, they bothered us. in all combat zones on the ground. We lost against someone stronger than us."

00:15 – Thomas Pesquet also attacks refereeing

Rugby fan, Thomas Pesquet did not miss out on the game. to react on its social networks to the elimination of the XV of France last night and at the same time the arbitration he judged contentious.

00:10 – Galthié : "They wereé effective"

At a press conference, Fabien Galthié returned to the South African kicking game which was the strength of the Boks to defeat the XV of France: "Until’à At the end, we were on the verge of regaining the score. We have highlights in the 2nd half, actions where We are making great strides that we cannot achieve. conclude because they play well, because they manage to achieve their goals. slow down the rucks and do what needs to be done to stop their momentum. On the strategy, they optimized the high-footed game which brings them 2/3 highlights. They were effective on this."

00:05 – Dupont: "Çthis will make us learn"

Face to face South Africa, the XV of France played one of its most important matches in its history. An issue highlighted by Antoine Dupont at a press conference: "It’s our first important meeting, we didn’t validate it. We didn’t go past à side. We have a big match in terms of intensity and content. Çthis will make us learn. In the present moment, it's difficult to have that look. There is a lot of disappointment and frustration."

00:02 – Galthié : "A very beautiful page in French rugby"

After the end of the World Cup, Fabien Galthié returned to the cycle and the group he built with the members of the XV of France: "For 4 years, we have written a very beautiful page in French rugby, the players can be proud, the staff can be proud, the federation can be proud. D. We can also be sad this evening by the result. The arrow of time allowed us to have a very clear vision. The French team will continue to improve. play, players will continue to play; play (only Atonio and Taofifenua stop)."

00:00 – Galthié congratulates the Boks

While it has been questioned on the referee in turn, Fabien Galthié took advantage of it to pay tribute to the performance of the South Africans: "It’s not just the central referee. The TMO etc… They also have the right to participate in arbitration. I can understand the players' frustration. I ask them to be courageous. I will ignore it. I will accept it as it already is. arrival in the past, decisions. We have been working with the refereeing body since the start of the World Cup and we will continue to do so. work like ça. Above all, say well done to the South Africans, this team, its staff and wish them to continue their journey with respect and FairPlay."

Present at a press conference with his coach, Antoine Dupont ;did not hide his disappointment and his incomprehension in the face of the refereeing of Ben O'Keeffe: "There is a lot of frustration. There are clear and obvious things about it. whistle which have not been whistled. When you have an advance of 60m and you slow down a ruck, it’s easy to do. adjust. 'I don't want to act bitter. I'm not sure that the arbitration was correct. at the level this evening. Point out that this does not take away anything from the situation. the performance of the South Africans who dominated us; in the fight."

10/15/23 – 11:55 p.m. – Galthié on the turning point of the match

Interrogated; on the different match facts in the match, Fabien Galthié notably returned to the start of the match:"There are so many gameplay facts and key moments in this game… Maybe when we lead 7-0 and Eben Etzebeth cuts the ball's trajectory. This is a very strong time for us which has not yet been concluded. Afterwards, instead of scoring 12 or 14 points, he scored 7-7. our big advance under the posts at the end of the match. If the ball comes out much faster, we finish the action differently. There are quite a few little moments when Antoine can't get through to the ball. transmit a ball precisely. There are facts which, accumulated together, are notorious. It’s difficult to get out of a key moment. There was so much going on in this match."

Arrived; at a press conference, Fabien Galthié started with a thought for the supporters: "I'm thinking of our supporters, our families, those who believe in us, who accompany us on a daily basis, to the staff who did this work, to the players. My first thought goes to this: them and our France group, whoever it is, must be courageous."

READ MORE