1
Ref Ben O’Keeffe responds to Antoine Dupont’s post-match comments
By Finn Morton
Referee Ben O’Keeffe has hit back at Antoine Dupont’s criticism after France’s heartbreaking Rugby World Cup exit as they lost 29-28 to defending champions South Africa last weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
With the hopes of a nation resting on their shoulders, including thousands of passionate French fans at Stade de France, Les Bleus fell painfully short of what would’ve been a statement victory in the knockout rounds.
France were in control with 15 minutes to play as they took a six-point lead into the business end of the Test, but a try to Eben Etzebeth changed everything. The Springboks regained the lead.
The game clock continued to tick ever closer to full-time as Les Bleus mounted a couple of desperate attacks in the hopes of another score, but it wasn’t to be.
French fans had been cheering all night, but a rather quiet or sad hush fell across the stadium as Boks wing Kurt-Lee Arendse kicked the ball out of play. Referee Ben O’Keeffe blew his whistle for full-time to confirm that France were out of their home World Cup.
Captain Antoine Dupont didn’t mince his words as the world-class halfback criticised the refereeing of O’Keeffe after the one-point defeat.
“I don’t know if the match was lost at that point, but at crucial moments, we could have had a penalty,” Dupont said. “When you’ve gone forward 60 metres and you’re slowed down in the rucks, it’s pretty easy to whistle.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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.”
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
It’s rather rare for a referee to publicly respond to criticism, but a relaxed-looking O’Keeffe had an opportunity to do just that after being appointed as the referee for the England versus South Africa semi-final on Saturday.
While the New Zealander is “buzzing” about the game this weekend, there were still some questions that remain unanswered following the French defeat. It was time to hear O’Keeffe’s side of the story.
O’Keeffe was asked about Antoine Dupont’s comments, but the referee dismissed the criticism as something that was said “in the heat of the battle.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“I think it’s a space for the players and the team, you know it’s obviously a very emotional time, and I just try and respect that and keep the space,” O’Keeffe told Newshub.
“I think players, coaches, they’re going to say things whether you win or whether you lose. I know that we’re never perfect as referees, you make errors in the game but I think comments that players can make they can do that after the game and it’s kind of in the heat of the battle.
“I’m sure everything’s fine. We’ve done my review and we’ll reach out and be able to get things back on track as well but I understand obviously the sentiments after a big match like that.”
Oqueef was on the saffa pay roll , needs his head stomped
OKeefe is a very good referee and has proven himself at the highest levels in the sport.
As informed spectators we do see things throughout the game and in the heat of battle that makes us wince when we see decisions that may be questionable.
I watch the players and see how the flow of the game plays out when the ref has control and allows play to continue after a small infringement is dismissed and an advantage is given for play to continue.
Games that are great to watch are nearly always with little interference from the referee.
A great ref sets up the tone of the game right from the kickoff and Ben O’Keefe is adept at getting not only the best from both teams but setting clear boundaries from the outset.
Do some teams play on the referees supposed weaknesses or strengths? This may very well happen but I’ve not seen any indication of this affecting O’Keefe’s performances.
He is a superb international rugby referee and sets a very high standard.
In 2007 the referee allowed a massive forward pass for the French. All Blacks were out. These things happen. Stop moaning France. You had your chances and didn't make it.
One thing is shining crystal clear for French and Irish rugby fans is the arrogance in victory and nastiness if far too many South African and New Zealand fans. They are extremely poor winners.
Kiwis and south asricana are great. Tulg is just a sore loser
GG talk a lot of crap
You are correct in your assessment and unfortunately the evidence is there. What is worse is that players sound like sore losers when they comment or complain after the fact.
This is not in the best interests of our great sport and shows disrespect to the game the players the referee and the fans and a lack of integrity.
French grief is doing the talking loud & clear. Engrossed in the angry & bargaining stages judging by many of these comments. It can’t be easy getting dumped out of your own home RWC in the 1/4s. Rant & vent my friends. Take your time. You’ve got four years. We ABs fans had 24 years of this shit. And none of it turned out to be the referees’ fault. Because at the end of the day, we had multiple opportunities to win. And didn’t take them. Just like you didn’t against the Boks. Four more years, four more years . . .
After reviewing the game,so many calls should have gone both ways.kolbe should have been allowed,the french try disallowed as he was clearly of his feet,slid forward on numerous attempts to score.That was a definite S.A penalty against France for double take.At the end of the day ,the ref did a great job at such a high level.The boys on the field did battle and one team won.It could have gone either way but also Co sidering the variables,the best team won.If one wants to look at bad blatant refereeing go back to S.A vs Australia when Bruce Lawrence blew the boys out .I feel for France but they lost to a better team.What needs to be looked at though is the rugby governing body who constantly evolves the laws of the game to suit NZ and Australia’s style of play.So many changes to the game was made because it did not fit into their expansive form of rugby,and that is pathetic.Now teams are playing good rugby and let’s see what other rule changes will be made in the future.Love Springbok rugby,Love Rugby.
Who's Bruce Lawrence..never heard off him ..u want to talk about ref's..go look at the days when all blacks toured south Africa..your ref's were the biggest cheating clowns ever ..do guess it's just payback but wasn't it so funny
The worst thing about the ref performance is that he would not go for video on important moments. This is really bad. The counter of Kolbe should have been crosschecked and was not. Really the ref and tmo are at fault. Or worse, they saw the replay but were not confident about their call. Really bad.
Hi Alain. Another thing that O"Keefe got wrong was the Kolbe try. Ball was not out and Estebeth was therefore offside starting his run for his tackle on DuPont.
Please see Nigel Owens critique of the quarters. Seems he quite likes the way O’Keefe reffed. Not sure you outqualify Owens to comment 🤷♂️
Comming from some- one who does not know his rules. Better be silent than making a fool of yourself
OF course it is BAD beyond belief. I am at the point where, I don’t believe one bit in this being just refereeing mistakes or lack of confidence (otherwise there would have been mistakes benefiting both sides and this was clearly one sided!) I have been rugby fan for more than 40 years, O’Keeffe corruption or unprofessionalism added to the other instances in this cup where referees have proven unprofessional despicable entitled divas with conscious or unconscious bias (a bias is a bias) just disgusted me enough to stop watching the rest of the World Cup! Quite frankly, Rugby used to be a noble sport, it now looks like corrupt soccer. Shame on you world rugby!
So du Pont won’t be publicly flogged for his open criticism of a World Rugby Referee?
Noted.
Exactly, but Rassy will
The video and MULTIPLE seasoned referees have spoken and O’Keeffe was dead wrong on several decisions (weirdly enough all benefiting RSA), penalties and also Kolbe/Ramos etc that would have dramatically changed the outcome of this game so yes O’Keeffe is either a corrupt referee or he is plain unprofessional at minimum. Regardless, this joke has no business being referee in a World Cup. Also, to address world rugby more directly, considering that France had won over NZ in the opening game, WHO is the dimwit that made the decision to allocate a NZ referee to a game with France? Really, WHO? Except for someone with highly discutable mental and decision making abilities or with some obvious ulterior motive, who would do this?
Your unwillingness to accept defeat in what was a fantastic game of rugby (which easily could have gone either way) is embarrassing, France. Your behavior is only hurting your own reputation - not BoK’s, and not the Springboks.
You are right: we should not react to defeat as Rassie Erasmus did a few months ago…
Dude, watch the re-runs and the videos before you speak that will prevent you from putting your foot in your mouth. RSA was never criticized by Dupont, the referee was and legitimately so because Kolbe starts running towards Ramos WAY before Ramos starts running. Video is available. So that’s on the ref 100% and if you think that people are so dumb they have not seen that you are deeply mistaken! Refereeing has been questioned several times in this cup for very valid reasons (as in video documented reasons).
This type of utter incompetence or, worse, of dishonesty reflects poorly, not on France but on the referees and the union at large. Shame on them!
The boks pulled out a great game for sure. However the referee not really. He seamed scared by the idea off a video call. I do not want to alter the boks victory. After all the game would have flow differently any case if calls had been different.
I dont think a QF ref should be in charge of the same team in the SF. For such crucial game, it gives one team very recent prior exposure to the same style while the other has to adapt for the game.
Same for the SF to Final. Barnes shouldnt ref a NZ SA final as he will have reffed NZ three weeks in a row.
That is a consistency which affords one team an advantage.
Weak. Higher, harder. You know you want to. Ask mommy to help you, sucker.
Yup…those are the words of a sick individual.
This man is a joke and a thief like World Rugby which is ruled by a gang of mafia guys.
Just imagine what will be your reactions if BOK had done this match to the South African team vs France in quater final in South Africa ?
Ah ah ah , when i think a the reactions of your coach after Barnes in Marseille, i’m laughing !!!!
Poor Antoine Dupont just said he isn’t agree and didn’t understand some clear decision not taken and it’s a shame !!!??? Serious ???
Two elbows actions on head of Dupont and Penaud : nothing, no video, no check
Clear head contact from DuToit to Danti in first half : nothing, video cut live in the stadium, no check
Kolbe vs Ramos two points try conversion : some videos shows cleartly now that Kolbe is starting before Ramos : no video, no TMO, no check
Try action cut by Etzebeth probably off side (see the video) : nothing, no video, no TMO, no check
I won’t speak about the first twenty minutes of the second half where all was permitted in ruck : a complete joke !
Ben O’Keefe can take holydays with D. Beevan (great and fair referee in 95 semi final isn’t-it) or G. Houbert for the 2011 final (who never saw McCaw and All Blacks off side duiring 80 mn) !
This game i loved duiring 55 years is in fact a fraud and you don’t need a French Team and French Rugby to play with
You don’t understand that Ben 0’Keefe and IRB killed this game in France n 2023 but you will discover it in the next years to come and international rugby will miss it and its money.
For me and many French, it’s now and definitly clear, this game is dead and we won’t put a single euro on international matches in the future !
It will be Top 14 and nothing more.
Be happy with your friends you want miss us (we know that since a long time)
By the way there are plenty of tickets for the semi final to buy : enjoy !
Another sore loser…
What a fool no nothing about rug by but have something to say. SOUR LOSERS