Angry Springbok fans exploded on social media on Monday after it was announced that Frenchman Jerome Garces will officiate Sunday’s World Cup semifinal between South Africa and Wales.
South African referee Jaco Peyper caused a storm this past weekend when he was photographed celebrating with Wales fans after sending off Frenchman Sebastien Vahaamahina in their quarterfinal defeat.
As a result, Peyper wasn’t considered for semifinal duty.
But with Peyper upsetting the French, Bok fans are now worried that they will get poor treatment from Frenchman Garces on Sunday.
His record in matches involving the Springboks already paints a bleak picture.
WHISTLEBLOWER: SA ref Jaco Peyper, in black T-shirt, with Wales’ supporters in Japan. Picture: Supplied.
Garces whistled 14 Springbok matches in the past, with the Boks winning only four of them.
The last of those defeats came at the hands of the All Blacks in the first round of the World Cup, where Garces was criticised for not handling the breakdown well and also missing a few off the ball incidents, most notably All Blacks captain Kieran Read’s clothesline on Pieter-Steph du Toit with the Bok flanker nowhere near the ball.
He was also the referee in charge when South Africa lost to Japan in Brighton four years ago and also reffed their 20-18 semifinal defeat to New Zealand in that World Cup.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RWC2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RWC2019 #RSAvWAL pic.twitter.com/2qh7ax0wDd
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag)
This is what fans had to say:
Jerome Garcais in charge of the SA vs Wales semi final! How can World rugby justify this decision, as it can not be based on capability!
— Kobus Wiese (@4KobusWiese) October 22, 2019
So Jerome Garcès is our man folks,we better be nice to him this week,the abuse won’t go down well guys!!
— Breyton Paulse (@BreytonPaulse) October 22, 2019
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RWC2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/l8IsvH2szo
— Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel)
Oh damn - I suspected this might happen. Jerome Garces to ref Boks vs Wales...
— Dan Retief (@Retief_Dan) October 22, 2019
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/jeromegarces?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jeromegarcesreffing the semi after this showing. How can anyone be expected to believe he is truly impartial? #RWC2019 @SARugbymag pic.twitter.com/U8AszzDQT2
— Cobus Robbertse (@CobusRza)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/WorldRugby?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WorldRugby #RugbyWorldCup #SAvsWales
— Dom (@DomTomSchmid)