Ref Ben O’Keeffe responds to Antoine Dupont’s post-match comments

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.

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.

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.

So du Pont won’t be publicly flogged for his open criticism of a World Rugby Referee?

Noted.

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.

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 !