French rugby player Jonathan Danty remains deeply frustrated over his team’s Rugby World Cup exit against South Africa and has expressed ongoing resentment towards Pieter-Steph du Toit. Danty, a key player for France, believes that an incident involving Du Toit during the quarter-final match was mishandled and should have led to disciplinary action.
The controversy stems from a clearout during the game, where Du Toit’s action appeared to connect with Danty’s head. Despite the apparent infringement, there was no intervention from the Television Match Official (TMO). Danty continued to play the full 80 minutes, but the match ended with South Africa securing a narrow 29-28 victory and advancing to win their fourth World Cup title.
This incident revived memories of a previous clash in 2022 when Du Toit was sent off for a similar clearout on Danty during a November international match. That tackle forced Danty to leave the field, and Du Toit later apologized. However, Danty finds it troubling that a similar event occurred during the World Cup without consequences.
Reflecting on the World Cup incident, Danty noted that he was attempting to steal the ball at the breakdown when the clearout occurred. He described the situation as unjust, criticizing the lack of review by officials. Despite being aware of the game’s quick pace, he believes the incident deserved closer examination.
Adding to his frustration, Danty mentioned seeing online content where South African player Eben Etzebeth defended another controversial moment from the match. For Danty, these memories remain painful, though he acknowledges they have helped him grow and develop as a player.
The bitterness lingers to the extent that Danty dismissed the idea of reconciliation with Du Toit. He emphatically stated that even a decade later, he would not consider sharing a drink with the South African flanker, underscoring the lasting impact of the perceived injustice.