Springbok utility forward, Pieter-Steph du Toit fell victim to harsh officiating in Marseille this weekend. Referee Wayne Barnes pointed a red card his way early on in the Springboks’ 26-30 defeat to France. While France centre Jonathan Danty was on the receiving end of an almighty blow to the face, Du Toit did not deserve a red card.
Gutted…
Red card for South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit #FRAvsRSA pic.twitter.com/nv3BDjKRoH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2022
How Pieter-Steph ended up colliding with Danty
In the 11th minute of the match, Cheslin Kolbe gets ahold of the ball, from a long skip pass from Faf de Klerk. However, with the right side of the field sufficiently covered by French defenders, Kolbe breaks to the left and goes into contact in the midfield.
Danty and the French prop, Uini Atonio take Kolbe to the ground and Danty attempts to steal the ball. However, he overshoots the ruck situation and falls on his behind. That put him in an awkward position in a dangerous area, sitting on the ground with his face pointing forward, where he can see the Springbok infantry arriving to secure the ball.
The infantry includes Pieter-Steph du Toit, who loses his footing over Atonio, who is still laying on the ground. An off-balance Du Toit then gets a mighty thrust from Kwagga Smith which propels him into the ruck. Du Toit rockets forward, and his head catches Danty in the face. The French number 12 immediately flops over and clutches his face in agony.
Pieter-Steph du Toit's red card#FRAvRSA pic.twitter.com/iKMlCpAgy5
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) November 12, 2022
It was confirmed after the Test that Danty suffered a broken cheek.
Due to the fact that contact was made to the head, a card was surely on the table. However, if the officials had taken the mitigating factors into account, they surely would’ve realised that a yellow card would be a justified punishment.
Pieter-Steph du Toit sent off 🟥
It's head-on-head contact and the Springboks will have to play 70 minutes with 14 men.
📺 Stream live: https://t.co/0BMWdennut pic.twitter.com/EoCFwCEPVG
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) November 12, 2022
Despite losing Pieter-Steph du Toit early on, it seemed to lift the game of the Springboks. They stayed in the game and had a proper opportunity to walk away with the W.
However, in the last ten minutes, Deon Fourie picked up a yellow card. France made full use of the advantage to steal the win at the death.
This is how Twitter reacted
No one
Absolutely nobody
Pieter-Steph du Toit pic.twitter.com/e2AZSAcfDf
— Fergal Collins (@fergal_collins) November 12, 2022
The referees are creating a softer game. Next time Pieter Steph du Toit will give him a hug.
I mean the french player was sitting at the ruck looking forward, what did he expect? A pique-nique?
— Wine Tours (@winemakersway) November 13, 2022
That’s a good clean out, unfortunately the French player was quite low so what was Pieter Steph du toit suppose to do ,,
— sk (@shkunene1) November 12, 2022
@RassieRugby
Dear Rassie & Pieter-Steph du Toit. You are an amazing player who has given so much to SA rugby & to each rugby fan who follows you. Seeing you be so sad from a bit of bad luck red card, hurts us more than a loss. We are so proud of you. stand tall please. Go bokke— Nicholas Atkins (@njatkins14) November 12, 2022
The last two World Rugby player of the year winners, Antoine Dupont 🇫🇷 (2021) and Pieter-Steph du Toit 🇿🇦 (2019), getting sent off in the same game is crazy stuff. What are the odds?#FRAvRSA
— Just Doc 🏉🎯 (@Doc_Torio) November 13, 2022
