More to come for Du Toit
AT 25 HE IS NOT AN OLD GUY AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE MIX Pieter-Steph will be part of a core of Springbok leaders.
Lock Pieter-Steph du Toit’s tenure as Springbok captain No 60 could stretch beyond just a single Test. While Du Toit has been named only for tonight’s Welsh Test in Washington and flank Siya Kolisi named for the England series, coach Rassie Erasmus said he might have bigger plans in store for Du Toit.
“We needed more experience in this game and especially with him growing in that leadership role,” said Erasmus.
“At 25 he is not an old guy and he will always be in the mix the way he is playing and the way he is committed.”
Erasmus said with injured former skippers Warren Whiteley and Eben Etzebeth back in the mix for the Rugby Championship it will widen his vision of leadership in the national side.
“If we can build him up as another leader going to the World Cup next year this is the perfect stage for him to start,” he said.
Du Toit, the grandson of former Bok prop Piet “Spiere” du Toit, said his main aim as leader today will be to inspire the team to start Erasmus’ tenure on a high note.
“We have our game plans that coach has given us, we have a certain plan in place how we want to launch on attack with coach Swys (De Bruin, backline attacking consultant) and his plans,” he said.
“But we also want to be clinical with our scrums and lineouts as two of the most vital facets of any team who want to execute their gameplan properly.”
Erasmus said Du Toit might not always play lock as is the case today.
“I will give Pieter-Steph time as a flank, but sometimes people will label a player as Jack of all Trades. He can start at No 5 lock in any Test match as well as flank,” said Erasmus.
“But in this specific Test match with guys like Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager out, we need a steady rock from guys who have Test experience.
“Marvin Orie can definitely also call the lineouts, but we needed Pieter-Steph’s experience.”