Springboks have ‘point to prove’
In-form back-rower Pieter-Steph du Toit says the Springboks have as big a point to prove as the All Blacks in this weekend’s test in Pretoria.
The final Rugby Championship encounter is technically a dead rubber with the All Blacks having secured the title with their win over Argentina on Sunday. But every New Zealand South Africa match carries an edge and the Loftus Versfeld clash will be no different.
‘‘The All Blacks are going to come at us with everything they’ve got. They’re going to try and prove a point,’’ du Toit said after his man-of-the-match display in last weekend’s win over the Wallabies.
‘‘That said, we’ve got a point to prove as well. We’ve beaten them there, and we have to show we can beat them here as well.’’
The du Toit family know what it is like to beat the All Blacks in a series.
Piet du Toit – Pieter-Steph’s grandfather – propped the Springboks scrum in the 1960 test series win over Wilson Whineray’s All Blacks.
His grandson burst on the test scene in 2013 as a 21-year-old lock.
Kiwi eyebrows were raised when the Springboks selectors began selecting the 2m tall, 120kg du Toit on the side of the scrum, but he has been a back row revelation this year, proving one of the best Boks in back-to-back wins over the All Blacks in Wellington and the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth.
The Citizen website, in South Africa, claimed in its post-Wallabies test ratings: ‘‘Would it be over-exaggerating to say [du Toit] is becoming the best [blindside] in the world?’’
The Sharks forward made 28 tackles against the All Blacks and another 17 against Australia and has been one of the key ball carriers.
Du Toit, 26, said South African teams were ‘‘trying to get that physicality back’’.
‘‘We’re trying to put the opponents on the back foot.
‘‘Defence has been a big focal point in recent games, and hopefully we will get it right next week too.’’
Du Toit said his tackling technique had improved under Jacques Neinaber, the fourth Springboks defence coach of his career. The changes in coaching personnel made a difference ‘‘in terms of getting your mindset around it’’.
‘‘The laws of the game have also changed and you have to tackle low now. We’ve made adjustments and it feels like we’ve improved.’’