Pieter-Steph du Toit of the Springboks during the Springboks team announcement media conference at Livorno Room, Tsogo Sun Montecasino on May 30, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
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 Saturday night’s Welsh Test in Washington – flank Siya Kolisi will be skipper in the England series – coach Rassie Erasmus suggested he might have bigger plans for Du Toit in future.
“We needed more experience in this game and it will help him grow in a 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. He is committed.”
Developing new leaders now seems prudent with the World Cup in mind, especially since injured captains Warren Whiteley and Eben Etzebeth’s return the Rugby Championship will widen his leadership group.
“We can develop Pieter-Steph as another leader going to the World Cup next year. This is the perfect stage for him to start,” said Erasmus.
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 the coach has given us. We’re quite excited with the way we want to launch our attack. Swys (de Bruin, backline attacking consultant) has clever plans,” he said.
“But we also want to be clinical with our scrums and lineouts. It’s two vital facets of the game for any side that wants to execute its gameplan properly,” he said.
Du Toit’s selection at lock is interesting given he’s played a lot of his rugby at No 7 for the Stormers this year and Erasmus hinted that he might bank on that versatility.
“I will give Pieter-Steph time as flank, but sometimes people will label a player as a Jack-of-all-Trades. He can start at 5 in any Test match as well as flank,” said the Bok coach.
“But in this specific Test match, with guys like Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager out, we need a steady platform from guys who have Test experience.
“Marvin Orie can definitely also call the lineouts, but we needed Pieter-Steph’s experience.”
