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South Africa will get another knockout match with Kiwi ref Ben O’Keeffe on the whistle – which is sure to seem like a massive troll to disgruntled French fans and their skipper Antoine Dupont, who declared BOK “not up to the challenge” in the quarters.
Les Bleus supporters blew up social media in the wake of their team’s 29-28 loss to the Springboks on Monday (AEST) while Dupont was scathing of O’Keeffe’s performance.
One widely shared Rassie Erasmus-style YouTube video detailed eight minutes of BOK’s calls that went against France – including a graphic of the moment Eben Eztebeth appeared to deliberately knock the ball on but which O’Keeffe ruled backwards.
France skipper Dupont declared O’Keeffe was not up to the occasion but World Rugby clearly disagrees – putting him back in charge of the Springboks match against England on Sunday (AEDT).
“What did you think from the outside? 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,” said Dupont.
“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 the challenge.”
Antoine Dupont of France interacts with referee Ben O’Keeffe during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between France and South Africa at Stade de France on October 15, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Australian Angus Gardner has been awarded his first World Cup knockout game with selection for Saturday’s (AEDT) New Zealand vs Argentina clash – the fifth time he will have officiated games between the two countries.
In a statement, World Rugby said the selections were based on merit and the wider team would remain in contention for the Rugby World Cup 2023 bronze final and final.
As an Englishman, Wayne Barnes could only be considered for the New Zealand vs Argentina game and would be a contender for the final should England not make it through.
World Rugby confirmed that Jaco Peyper (South Africa) wasn’t considered, owing to a calf injury sustained during the Wales vs Argentina quarter-final in Marseille.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “I would like to congratulate Angus and Ben, the assistant referees and TMOs on their selection for the semi-finals.
“The match official group as a whole have played a full and positive role in an exceptional Rugby World Cup, including a compelling set of quarter-finals.”
Former All Blacks star Tana Umaga says Kiwi fans are jumping back on the All Blacks bandwagon, having written off their chances at the RWC under Ian Foster.
“There wasn’t a lot of expectation on New Zealand going into the game [against Ireland]. That’s even at home, I don’t think the public at home gave this Ian Foster-led team any hope of making it past this stage,” Umaga told the official World Cup podcast.
“A lot of things have happened back home. I have felt for Ian Foster and the way that he is not coming back next year. It’s not something we usually do. Now we have got to this stage you see everyone is trying to clamber back onto the bandwagon.
“Obviously Fozzy was going to get us there and he’s got a lot of good people around him. I had a thought for him, what he has been through. We love our national team, as does everyone, and they like to have a say about it and sometimes it is not the kindest words they use for our coaches. He went through a lot and I feel for him and his family who went through that.”
Devastated France assistant coach Shaun Edwards has suggested the Springboks went to school on the Wallabies to work out how to bring the downfall of France.
Edwards, writing in the Daily Mail, noted that France struggled against Australia’s kicking game in their lead in Test to the World Cup and the Springboks used similar tactics.
“The thing we didn’t handle was their old up-and-under. South Africa put the ball up in the air and it’s 7-7 instead of 14-0. They did it twice and got two tries. We struggled with it against Australia and Rassie Erasmus obviously noted that,” Edwards wrote. “It’s a huge part of the modern game now, like a third set-piece, and they won it.”
Edwards wrote of the shock of being suddenly dispatched from their own tournament.
“It’s weird. We spent four months together preparing for the biggest challenge of our lives, living together like a family. Within 14 hours you’re at home on your own,” he said.
“At the end of every campaign there are people retiring or moving on and there were a few handshakes and the old ‘keep in touch’. But I didn’t even see all the players before I left because there was only one flight available.
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
“It will take a long time for all of us to get over this. These players won’t get another chance at a home World Cup in their careers and it came to a premature end because of the smallest margins.
“It was total devastation in the changing rooms afterwards. Silence. Fabien Galthie spoke to the guys about the journey over the last four years but we were all hoping it would end differently.”
South African World Cup hero Joel Stransky has delivered a withering assessment of England – dismissing their chances of beating the Boks and calling them the “weakest team in the semi-finals” – even though they beat Argentina earlier in the tournament.
England are the only unbeaten side left in the last four after edging Fiji in Marseille, following four pool victories.
Stransky, whose drop goal decided the 1995 Cup final for the Boks, told the UK Telegraph: “England have made themselves quite a good competition side, they do the basics well but I don’t see any area of the game in which they are really strong.
“I don’t see one element where they can dominate, they are a decent team but no more than that. They looked after the ball better against Fiji, but no part of their game sets them aside from other teams.
“They don’t excel in any areas. They could easily have lost against Fiji again, but just about did enough. They can do the basics, but lack the excellence required to beat a stronger side, such as South Africa.
“They like to kick the ball a lot, get territory and try to force mistakes. But against the better teams in the world, you need more than that and from what I’ve seen I don’t feel they have it.”
“I would expect the Springboks to win comfortably. I think it will be an easier game than the amazing battle with France. For me, England are the weakest team in the semi-finals and it would be a major surprise for me if it’s not South Africa facing New Zealand in the final.”
England star Ben Earl has praised the work of his team’s coach Steve Borthwick as the team prepares for a semifinal against the Springboks.
“Steve is superhuman in terms of preparation, in terms of plans,” said Earl, who has been outstanding in England’s five-match winning run.
“It never surprises me that everything is completely in hand.
“We just get told the plan and we bring it to life, and the amount of quality we have in our group is crazy.”
Earl said the team had resolved to drive through to the final for their supporters.
Asked what the players said to each other after beating Fiji, he replied: “Let’s go and win the semi-final, let’s get to the World Cup Final. We felt the support coming to Marseille, not the easiest place to get to, and how many English people were there?
“Think about how many people are going to be in Paris, it’s going to be nuts isn’t it? That’s the exciting bit and we’re going to recover well, have a bit of a different week in terms of that short turnaround and crack on.”
Famously grouchy Ireland star Johnny Sexton was stitched up by his teammate Jack Conan on their flight home from the World Cup.
Conan commandeered the plane’s PA to invite passengers to form a queue and give the legend – who played his final international game against the All Blacks – a “hug and a kiss” on the way home. “He’d obviously love that,” joked Conan. “He’d be over the moon”.
Two Welsh rugby fans were taken to hospital after an alleged attack by two England supporters in Marseille following the World Cup quarter-finals, according to the BBC.
A Wales fan, 57, was treated for head injuries and later discharged along with his son, 24, a police spokesman said.
A British man in his thirties was arrested and found to be in possession of cocaine. Both England and Wales played quarter-finals in Marseille last weekend.