2023-10-17 14:15:06
Cheslin Kolbe’s play that gave South Africa the victory once morest France
As is usual in these significant events, many sports lovers join in following a discipline that they do not know in depth. The matches corresponding to the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup had enormous appeal with electrifying definitions and thousands of eyes closely followed those games. One action in particular marked the trend of the scoreboard in the elimination of host France once morest South Africa and sparked controversy among locals and strangers.
Cheslin Kolbe’s heroic run to block Thomas Ramos’ shot into the woodwork left the game at 12-12 in an action rarely seen and which, in the end, was crucial for the Springboks victory by 29-28.
The question that immediately arose in the media was along the same lines: “Was Cheslin Kolbe’s counterattack once morest Thomas Ramos valid?” asked the French television channel TF1. “Did the supersonic Kolbe have the right to block Ramos’s conversion?” the RMC investigated along the same lines. The popular L’Equipe also asked in that tune: “Did Cheslin Kolbe leave Thomas Ramos’ conversion too soon?”
But not only the French media focused on this action, but also the South African newspapers themselves. “One of the big talking points of the game in Paris was Cheslin Kolbe’s attack on Thomas Ramos’ conversion kick from the touchline. It has been widely debated and discussed… Was it a legal demolition or did Kolbe rush to do it?” asked columnist Jacques van der Westhuyzen of the South African newspaper The Citizen.
World Rugby regulations state that the kicker has 90 seconds to execute the conversion from the time the try is awarded. Opponents must stand behind the goal line and “must not cross that line until the kicker moves in any direction to begin his run.” That section 8.14 of the regulations clarifies: “When the kicker does this they may charge or jump to prevent the goal but in these actions they must not be physically supported by other players.”
The camera that TF1 broadcast in France to discuss Kolbe’s actions
The issue escalated to the point that Kolbe, in statements replicated by Netwerk24, defended his iconic play: “I think it definitely helped that I played with Thomas for six years and knew what he was doing. He did everything according to the rules and within the rules. “I was behind the line before his race started.” Ramos, on his side, also gave his opinion: “Knowing that this is my usual routine, I don’t have the impression of being very close to the 22 line. I will have to look at the images once more. As I hit, I feel like he’s on top of me. That had never happened to me before.”
The media TF1 broadcast a panoramic film of the action and questioned the decision made by referee Ben O’Keeffe: “In the sequence, Thomas Ramos’ former teammate at Stade Toulouse appears to launch his sprint before the number 15 of the Blues begins his race to kick the ball. Which is formally prohibited by regulations. But Ben O’Keeffe judged otherwise, since he did not use video.”
It is not the only image that allowed the French media to discuss the judge’s ruling, since RMC broadcast the filming of a fan from the stands where “it seems to show that Chelsin Kolbe begins his career to counteract the conversion of Thomas Ramos before he takes impulse”.
Kolbe’s intervention before Ramos’ kick (Photo: Archyde.com/Gonzalo Fuentes)
Regardless of this particular situation, France captain Antoine Dupont expressed his fury with the refereeing performance in statements shared by France 24: “I don’t want to be the bitter person who complains regarding the referee for losing the match. There’s a lot of disappointment and frustration, but we can’t wait to see the footage once more. There are clear things that should have been called. “I don’t think the refereeing was up to what was at stake today.”
The RMC exposes, in total, “five referee decisions that generated controversy” with what happened with Kolbe in the center of the scene: “The two points missing for the blues to win may be there, in this unreal counterattack by Cheslin Kolbe to the Thomas Ramos’ attempt to convert. “Referee Ben O’Keefe quickly validated the South African’s gesture, ordering the match to resume at 12-12, when the Blues might have regained the advantage in this action.”
Behind all the debate is the impressive athletic ability of Kolbe, who according to the newspaper Marca has a record of 10.70 seconds in the 100 meter dash. He is related to an Olympic champion (Wayde Van Niekerk) and trained with him before taking up rugby. He achieved that coverage despite being the shortest Springbok player at 1.70m. The Spanish newspaper warns that he covered 20 meters in 3.05 seconds.
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