World Rugby rubbishes Springboks RWC cheating claims
World Rugby has dismissed Dupont’s accusations that referee Ben O’Keeffe helped the Springboks beat France in the World Cup playoffs.
Dupont, the French captain, slammed the standard of refereeing in their World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks, but World Rugby has come out in defence of the officiating team.
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The Springboks edged France 29-28 in a thrilling quarter-final encounter at the Stade de France, but it took a bit of a sour turn when Dupont slammed the refereeing standard by suggesting that O’Keeffe’s officiating aided the Springboks.
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Dupont’s scathing attack led to vile online abuse towards O’Keeffe at the time.
In an interview with French publication Midi Olympique, Jutge, acknowledged the pressure on Dupont’s return from injury for that quarter-final, but rejected the French captain’s comments, citing the ensuing online hatred.
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WORLD RUGBY BACKS REFEREE
Jutge explained that World Rugby’s referee selectors panel was convinced the defeat wasn’t linked to the referee.
“As the person responsible for the referees, I cannot condone what Antoine Dupont said, because it gave rise to a movement of abuse and terrible hatred online towards Ben,” the World Rugby referees boss told Midi Olympique.
“But I know the man, and I have no doubt about his moral values and the way he perceives exchanges between referees and players. He is a huge champion and a good person that we respect, but I repeat, I do not condone what he said that day, even if we all know that he was under enormous pressure to return following his injury.
“We analysed his performance, and after this match, the selectors and I were convinced that the defeat of the France team was not linked to his refereeing.”
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