Thomas the Tank has Boks in his crosshairs
His stint at Munster gave him a glimpse of what may be required
● Unabashed, confident and to the point, Thomas du Toit laid bare his goals for the season: “In simple terms, I really want to play for the Springboks.”
His words drop as if from a sudden cloudburst in the desert. Sports folks generally steer clear of bold declarations, or saying anything that may vaguely be interpreted as them deviating from the middle of the road.
“You can’t take rugby week by week,” he said, kicking sand in the face of the cliché.
“The game is so professional now, you have to think further. You have to look into the future without tripping over the small hurdles in front of you.
“I really want to play for the Springboks. I will be exceedingly happy if it happens.”
Thing is, Du Toit already got a glimpse of what it’s like to be a Bok. In November last year he was summoned to Wales to act as prop cover. He hated some of it.
“The thing I remember is warming up for that test. It is probably the worst feeling warming up with them knowing that you are not in the match 23. That’s especially so for someone who is as impatient as I am.
“I did get a taste of what it will be like but things will probably change a little now that Rassie (Erasmus) has taken over. I found it an environment in which you have to be a whole lot more professional than you think you should be. It is about buying into a plan and getting everybody onto the same page. That is going to be hugely important, especially given what Rassie has said so far.”
Known as the Tank, Du Toit, who turns 23 on Saturday, has some growing up to do in the position where he feels he can make a bigger impact. Moving from loosehead to tighthead was supposed to bolster his test credentials but mastering the new position’s dark arts, he admits, takes time.
“The biggest challenge is to learn all the small detail. You can have a wonderful coach who teaches you about match-day scenarios but no-one can beat the actual experience you gain on the field. I have learnt a lot and I’m now trying to implement it.”
Given his ability to bust the gainline, the shift was potentially going to lessen his impact as a ball carrier. “The loosehead is definitely more dynamic and available to carry but if you know your game plan well and you know where to run you can get more running opportunities. No-one actually expects that from a tighthead but you somehow have to have an X-factor.”
The former schoolboy prodigy from the Cape has also set his sights on playing 50 matches for his adopted franchise. “It is no secret that I wanted to stay with Western Province. The opportunity was at the Sharks. It was the best decision I could make.”
Adjusting to life in Durban, he admits, wasn’t easy. “It was bad for my folks as well. They came to drop me into the unknown. It was on my second visit that I had to stay.”
Ultimately though Du Toit will be drawn back to the wheat farm he came from.
“That would be an absolute dream. Just like some people know they want to play rugby, I know I want to go to the farm.
“It is the desire to provide to people what they need on a daily basis. To literally give them their daily bread. It is the satisfaction of contributing to people’s everyday life.”
First though, he has to realise his rugby dream. He has made steady progress over the past few seasons, thanks in part to a threemonth stint at Munster. Turns out it may have unintended benefits.
“Rassie was there when I was there. I got to know him. I realised in our meetings now he hasn’t changed at all. He is more productive and more professional.
“He wants to implement things that worked there with the Springboks. It is on a bigger and grander scale. I’m very excited about the future.”