Here are the three key talking points from the Springboks’ agonising, drama-filled 30-26 loss in opposition to France in Marseille on Saturday.
Springboks and France see crimson
It says one thing of what a superb and chaotic Test match this was, that the 2 crimson playing cards issued by referee Wayne Barnes to Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit and France captain Antoine Dupont weren’t the largest talking points nor essentially the most controversial bits of officiating.
In truth, neither Du Toit and Dupont can argue in opposition to their respective everlasting removals from the sport.
It was barely 10 minutes into the sport when Du Toit recklessly lunged right into a ruck and hit Jonathan Danty sq. within the head, leaving the French centre sprawled on the bottom whereas play continued. Replays did present that Du Toit’s plunge was considerably aggravated by a shove within the again from his Springboks teammate Kwagga Smith. But it made Du Toit’s motion no much less harmful.
This compelled Barnes to problem the crimson card, leaving Du Toit in tears on the sideline and the Springboks down the 14 gamers and underneath immense stress for about 70 minutes.
Early within the second half, Antoine was given his marching orders for careless mid-air deal with on Cheslin Kolbe, which resulted within the Springboks wing touchdown on dangerously on his neck.
Chasing kick-pass, Kolbe leapt excessive to pluck the ball out of the air. Dupont didn’t soar to contest ball, that means he by no means had a sensible probability of attending to the ball. It was a nailed-on crimson card offence.
The incident introduced an finish to each Dupont and Kolbe’s night because the latter failed his Head Injury Assessment.
Fourie yellow leaves Springboks with 13-man defence
The Springboks had been dominated the bodily battle for a lot of the second half, however had been dealt a savage blow when substitute substitute unfastened ahead Deon Fourie was yellow carded within the seventieth minute.
It was one other ambivalent resolution by Barnes, which the Springboks had each proper to really feel aggrieved by.
Prior to Fourie’s indiscretion, the Boks had been on assault and France conceded three consecutive penalties on their very own their tryline. Not as soon as did the referee problem the hosts with a workforce warning not to mention a card of any type.
By distinction, when Fourie was adjudged to have collapsed the maul on the different finish of the sector, he was instantly ship off with out a lot a warning. Down to13 males with 10 minutes remaining within the Test, the Springboks had their work reduce out for them defensively.
A attempt, a double motion and an unreachable TMO
Despite all that went earlier than it, this second is the place the sport was determined.
Trailing by 4 points, France set an attacking lineout. They launched a dominated maul from the set-piece, nevertheless it disintegrated mere metres earlier than the tryline.
Defending as if their lives relied on it, the Springboks did nicely to maintain the French carries at bay for a few phases. But that defensive wall was finally breached when tighthead prop Sipili Faletea managed to get the ball over the road and Barnes awarded the try.
At second look, although, there appeared to have been a double motion by the ball-carrier; which the Springboks delivered to the referee’s consideration. In return, Barnes known as for a TMO evaluate. But in one other dramatic twist, the referee misplaced communication with the TMO and consequently the attempt stood with out it even being checked out.
It was simply one other weird second in a wild sport that can stay lengthy within the reminiscence of Springbok and French followers, albeit for various causes.
SPRINGBOKS RECORD AGAINST FRANCE:
Played 44; Won 27; Lost 11; Drawn 6; Points for: 939, Points in opposition to: 662; Tries scored 105, Tries conceded 59; Highest rating 52-10; Biggest win 42 points. Win % 61%.
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TEAMS
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.
France – 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.
Subs: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Bastien Chalureau, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Matthieu Jalibert.