Bitter France star refuses to reconcile with Pieter-Steph du Toit after Rugby World Cup ‘injustic
Pieter-Steph du Toit in action for Springboks against France at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and Jonathan Danty (inset) dejected as flanker celebrates.
Pieter-Steph du Toit in action for Springboks against France at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and Jonathan Danty dejected as flanker celebrates.
France centre Jonathan Danty is still bitter about their Rugby World Cup exit to the Springboks and has refused to forgive Pieter-Steph du Toit for a perceived ‘injustice’.
Les Bleus’ powerhouse remains angry after believing that the flanker should have been sanctioned for a clearout that connected with his head in the quarter-final over a year ago.
Danty stayed on the field and played the entirety of the 80 minutes, but he felt that it was enough of an infringement to warrant a TMO intervention.
That duly never came and it was the Springboks who went on to claim a tense 29-28 triumph in the last-eight on their way to a fourth world title.
A repeat of 2022 clash
Coincidently, 12 months prior to that incident, Du Toit was sent off for another clearout on Danty during a 2022 November international which forced the France centre to leave the field.
According to Danty, the flanker apologised for that illegality, but the La Rochelle star is still seething for what was, in his view, the same type of hit at the World Cup.
“He had sent me a message to apologise [for the first one]. But the second time, I found it quite surprising that it was a fairly similar action,” he told Midi Olympique.
“I’m looking to steal the ball at the breakdown, but stealing balls a metre from the ruck… it can be a bit complicated. But that’s how it is.
“It’s an injustice, but beyond that action, I think it’s over the whole match. I’m looking at the big screen at that moment of the match and they decide to kick into touch.
“Everything happens very quickly. Their number 10 takes the ball and kicks it into touch, and then you know it’s over.
“I get back into position, the touch is taken and it goes very quickly. But I think it might have been worth reviewing.”
Grudge to remain
They say time is a healer but not for Danty, who insists that he will bear a grudge towards Du Toit and would refuse to go for a beer with the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year if offered a chance to clear the air.
“I recently saw on social media that Eben Etzebeth had reposted a video of his goalkeeper save saying that the ball went backwards,” he added.
“These are bad memories, things that remain rather negative, but they are also part of the failures that allowed me to build myself and grow.
“Having a drink with Pieter-Steph du Toit in 10 years? No way.”
