South African fans call for removal of referee Jerome Garces from taking charge of semifinal with Wales

Angry South African fans are demanding the removal of referee Jerome Garces from taking charge of their Rugby World Cup semifinal with Wales. 

An online petition has been started calling on the Rugby World Cup Managing Director and World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper to take the game away from the highly-rated French official. 

Within a day, it had reached close of 2,500 signatures.

The Springboks have won just four of their 14 matches Garces has taken charge of, including some high-profile defeats.

Garces was the referee in South Africa's 23-13 Pool B defeat to New Zealand. 

It was their sixth successive loss to the All Blacks with Garces in charge.

Garces was also the referee when the Springboks lost to Japan at the 2015 World Cup in Brighton. 

Wales Online reports Garces has officiated just one previous Wales v South Africa match, back in 2017 which saw the Springboks lose 24-22.

All Blacks will face England in the first semi-final at 8pm this Saturday while South Africa will play Wales at 9pm on Sunday. 

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