Appointment of criticised referee O’Keeffe to be welcomed by both England and South Africa: Erasmus
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FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Quarter Final - France v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - October 15, 2023 Referee Ben O'Keeffe awards South Africa's fourth try scored by Eben Etzebeth REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo
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PARIS – The appointment of referee Ben O’Keeffe for a second successive South Africa knockout game at the World Cup will be welcomed by their semi-final opponents England as well, Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said on Tuesday.
The New Zealand official was jeered off, and criticised afterwards by France captain Antoine Dupont, for his officiating on Sunday as South Africa pipped the hosts 29-28 in their quarter-final, with several marginal decisions going the Springboks’ way.
World Rugby raised eyebrows on Tuesday by naming O’Keeffe to handle Saturday’s semi-final, a rematch of the 2019 final, but Erasmus said it was not unprecedented to have the same referee three times in a World Cup.
O’Keeffe, 34, was also in charge when the Boks lost to Ireland in their pool game.
“We had Jerome Garces as our referee for the opening game of the last World Cup, and then the semi-final and final,” said Erasmus.
O’Keeffe has yet to officiate an England match at this tournament, but Erasmus felt this would offer neither side any favours.
"I guess it's a bit of an unknown, either positive or negative. It will be best for the team that stays within the laws and hopefully doesn’t have rugby accidents, causing cards, although I think that's one thing that Ben has really done well, and I think (England coach Steve) Borthwick will be as pleased if he referees the game like that again.”
O’Keeffe told New Zealand’s NewsHub television on Wednesday that referees are never perfect.
He said: “Players and coaches are going to say things, whether you win or lose. I know that we’re never perfect as referees, you definitely make errors in the game. But comments that players can make, they can do that after the game.”
Meanwhile, France coach Fabien Galthie has received the backing of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) despite their World Cup quarter-final exit on home soil.
The 54-year-old was given unprecedented resources, with 42 players at his disposal for every training camp and a 50-strong staff, including a top referee on the payroll. He will continue to be supported and there will be no cutbacks on budget despite financial difficulties, said FFR president Florian Grill.
“I’m not bothered by the fact that we’re registering a €16 million (S$23.1 million) deficit in 2022-23 and that the 2023-24 deficit will be around €20 million,” Grill said.
“Fabien is the man of the situation. We cannot forget what has been done in the last four years because we lost that game (against South Africa) by one point.”
The decision rankled with former France coach Guy Noves. He told L’Equipe: “When I was head coach, we also lost by one point against South Africa (18-17 in a Test match in 2017) and it was a catastrophe. I know that Galthie has had unimaginable resources, that there had never been so many resources.”
Meanwhile, Simon Raiwalui will step down as Fiji coach at the end of the year, saying that it has been “quite a ride” after the Pacific Islanders’ campaign ended with a loss to England in the quarter-finals. REUTERS
