Dupont: France captain speaks out, questions refereeing
France captain Antoine Dupont criticised the standard of refereeing after they lost against the Springboks in the quarter-finals
The Springboks beat France 28:29 on Sunday, 15 October in Paris and entered into the semi-finals. France captain Antoine Dupont has since criticised the standard of refereeing after they lost against South Africa on their home ground.
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CONGRATULATIONS SPRINGBOKS! FRANCE CAPTAIN ANTOINE DUPONT SPEAKS OUT
The Springboks proudly beat France on Sunday. And, they are now ranked as the best rugby team in the world. Previously, Springboks Eben Etzebeth sympathised with France after they lost. “That was a brutal test match. In the first couple of minutes, they [France] scored, then we scored and it went on like that… it is a relief inside me, the French must be heartbroken so thoughts to them, BBC quoted Etzebeth as saying.
However, it seems the France team has been struggling to come to terms with their loss. The France captain, Antoine Dupont has spoken out and seemingly questioned the refereeing in Sunday’s game, Sky Sport reported.
“It’s hard to talk about things because there is a lot of disappointment, a lot of frustration… There were a few clear things where the whistle wasn’t blown… I don’t want to be a bad loser and moan about the refereeing but I’m not sure the level of refereeing was up to the level of the game today,” Dupont was quoted as saying.
🚨 L'image forte de la fin de cette coupe du monde de rugby : Antoine Dupont craque à la fin du match, après avoir perdu d'un point contre l'Afrique du Sud 🏉🇫🇷💔 (via Cosmopolitan)
pic.twitter.com/iGqWkQF0Vd— GOSSIP ROOM (@GossipRoomOff) October 17, 2023
ALSO READ: ‘Now ranked no. 1’: SA celebrates the Springboks world ranking
MORE ABOUT THE RUGBY RANKING
The Springboks are the best rugby team in the world. New Zealand is ranked at number two; Ireland takes the third spot, meanwhile, France settles in the fourth spot.
“South Africa’s Springboks are now ranked no. 1 in the world, after beating France to qualify for the Semi-Finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They are the defending Rugby World Champions,” Africa Facts Zone wrote on X (the social media platform formally known as Twitter).
The Boks will be flying the South African flag high in Paris again when they play against England in the semi-finals on Saturday, 21 October at 21:00 (South African time).
South Africa's Springboks are now ranked no. 1 in the world, after beating France to qualify for the Semi Finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
They are the defending Rugby World Champions. pic.twitter.com/2fDE4gd6gi
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) October 17, 2023