French coach Fabien Galthie is still filthy at Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe for the hosts’ World Cup loss to the Springboks, and now claims BOK was also unhappy with his performance in the dramatic quarterfinal.
O’Keeffe was the subject of French ire in the wake of the Springboks’ 29-28 win and within days a World Rugby report was leaked to French media claiming five major errors were found in O’Keeffe’s handling of the match – although only three benefitted the Boks.
The French captain Antoine Dupont also claimed the Kiwi ref was not up to the challenge of the quarter-final.
The game included a controversial and successful charge down from Cheslin Kolbe of Thomas Ramos’ conversion attempt.
Midi Olympique reported a World Rugby analysis of referee O’Keeffe’s performance showed Kolbe left the tryline too early, and the conversion should have been re-taken.
The other decisions included a a dangerous clean-out by Pieter-Steph du Toit in the 17th minute – for which World Rugby say the Bok flanker should have been yellow carded – and Kwagga Smith’s halfway-line turnover in the second half, which Handre Pollard converted for South Africa’s winning points.
It was that decisive Smith turn over that Galthie just can’t let go of.
Speaking at a Six Nations debrief this week, äfter France were a major disappointment, Galthie said his players had been “strongly impacted by questionable decisions.”
France Head Coach Fabien Galthie looks on prior to the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Scotland and France at BT Murrayfield Stadium on February 10, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
He said he has spoken with O’Keeffe since the quarter-final, and that the Kiwi admitted he was unhappy with how he had refereed the game.
“We lost the quarter-final for rugby reasons but also for refereeing decisions,” said Galthie.
“We spoke about it with Ben O’Keeffe during a recent meeting at World Rugby, in a World Rugby committee, I therefore had the opportunity to speak with Ben O’Keeffe. At one point in the meeting there was a discussion about the behavior of the selectors.
“I took the floor and said that we had a major role as educators and that we must behave with respect towards the referees. This is fundamental.
“I told him that my players had been strongly impacted by questionable decisions. Everyone agreed on the fact that some decisions weren’t the right ones. He wasn’t at all happy with his performance either.”
It’s hard to see Galthie’s comments as anything other than proof he is a sore loser – especially after a poor Six Nations campaign – and South Africa’s rugby community gave him a lashing.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Why do you repeat this sh#$ ..NZ provided 6% with a population of 4 plus million ..South Africa 19% with a population of 60 plus million ..Give it a break man ..
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Sounds good to me!
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Shot clocks were introduced in both the URC and SR in 2023. That still leaves a lot of initiatives that come from Super Rugby and shows that, as you put it "western hemisphere" leagues also want to speed up the game. The new laws aren't meant to change the basics of the game. They're designed to encourage more attacking play.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Look who's talking about ref trashing :laughing: Wallabies were wining against you under normal coach that is lol, so no sour grapes, just stating facts :stoked: You too think Sr is second rate tho?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
One point was enough ..And as long as our opposition keeps trashing refs the way they do we will keep winning by one point . :laughing:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Paranoya..South Africans ?? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: never my friend .....We dont even know how to spell it....Jokes aside yes we are ..But we call it Laager mentality ..and not the beer kind but ...That plays a role of course ...More seriously the biggest question and challenge SA Rugby faces today is there are masses of young unbelievably athletic players emerging.. ..We need to capitalize on that ..Even under Rassie have the likes of Kolbe , Moodie , Willemse , Libbok , Arendse been given enough expression ...There is pressure from the new fan base that they are not ..By speeding up the game and favouring attack over defence may just be doing us a huge favour ..Get us out of the comfort ( Laager) zone .. :rugby:
CPM
Roar Rookie
None of those laws have changed the basics of the game - set piece dominance and defence. Not one of them and you think that these “proposed” new laws will make a difference to the game, or save the boring and dying SRP. p.s as I recall shot clocks were a URC invention long ago since 2021.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
You can bluster all you like but these "specialist working groups" to make the game more entertaining have been set up by World Rugby. Far from kiwi and Aussie "arrogance" it's the consensus direction of travel for the entire game. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/03/19/world-rugby-lowering-tackle-height-trials/
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
50/22, TMO upgrades to yellow cards, shot clocks, goal line drop outs, 20 minute red cards, no meetings before lineouts, scrapping the DuPont law. All introduced to Super Rugby and then either already used worldwide or to be trialled worldwide.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Spot on ..
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
It may sound like a cop out from me Jacko but this is not my opinion ..Im telling you whats happening out there ... A simple You Tube search from esteemed pundits like Eggchasers rugby a UK presenter is absolutely asking the same question.....I would even go so far as to say its mainstream opinion........Call it dribble if you like ..It has a hell of a lot of purchase .....
Guess
Roar Rookie
Says someone whose coach made a whole video with him crying
Guess
Roar Rookie
Who wrote this article rassie? Frog is right. It’s on o Kef
Guess
Roar Rookie
Why did you only win by one point against second rate and needed ref help to do so?
CPM
Roar Rookie
Kiwis and Aussies should stop their arrogance thinking that the world wants to see a game with players running around like headless chickens running ball in hand with no set pieces. People in the Western Hemisphere like their set pieces and structured defences. Look at the URC registering record stadium and tv attendances under the current laws as they are. Loot at the Top14, the French love their scrums and lineouts and the Prem is all about driving mauls. There is no way in hell that the Western Hemisphere will adopt any law that will turn rugby into second rate SR or league.
CPM
Roar Rookie
LOL the phase one (1) break foot is a SR law haha (2) and the use it at the ruck law is not new. It has always been there, what happens after 5 seconds? (3) water boy was introduced after Gatland had his entire coaching staff on the field “coaching” during the Lions series, Rassie copied them so be careful of what you wish for. Maybe if you write an article on these so called SR law changes I may read it before pulling it apart.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
South Africa needs to overcome its paranoia. It’s not about stopping the Springboks, every period of dominance comes to an end. It’s about redressing the balance between attack and defence which has become far too skewed of late.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
They’re the laws from Super Rugby that are driving the international panel’s programme.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
And idiotic posters, who really don't know a lot pretend they know better . What a conundrum huh? Do we take notice of the 'experts' online, or the ones who actually know the laws and how they meant to be judicated?
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
That's because they all apperntly online , and not getting off their bums and actually doing anything huh Jacko??