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

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.

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.

“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.”

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.”

“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.”