In an interview with The Citizen, the World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, talks about the injury that set him back this year as well as the excitement that is building ahead of the tour by the British and Irish Lions. Picture: Getty Images
Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit beamed with pride as World Rugby Player of the Year for 2019 on Sunday as this World Cup-winning side swept the main awards.
The 27-year-old blindsider was instrumental in South Africa’s World Cup campaign, especially effective at the breakdown and winning the battle against England’s famed “kamikaze kids” back row in the final.
“It’s a massive honour for me to accept this award,” said Du Toit.
“I think when we come back (to South Africa), it’s going to be an unbelievable experience… We can’t wait to get home. We miss our country so much,” added the 55-cap loose forward.
“I’ve got three younger brothers as well and they tell me ‘You’re living our dream’, so I have to live up to that.”
The Boks arrive back in the country in two groups, the first on Tuesday afternoon.
Du Toit beat off competition including his team-mate wing Cheslin Kolbe, as well as All Black Ardie Savea and England’s young star Tom Curry.
The World Rugby panel picked South Africa as men’s team of the year and Rassie Erasmus as top coach after the Springboks won the World Cup and also secured the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2009.
Erasmus took over as director of rugby at the end of 2017 and shortly afterwards doubled his responsibilities by becoming head coach following the sacking of Allister Coetzee after a miserable run of 12 losses from 25 games.
He has rapidly turned the Boks’ fortunes around, culminating in Saturday’s 32-12 win over England in the final when Siya Kolisi, their first black captain, lifted the trophy in Yokohama.
“I’m very, very proud to be South Africa,” said the affable Erasmus, a strong believer in building a game plan around kicking half-backs and a solid set-piece.
“We’re all trying to be like the All Blacks. We’ve enjoyed the last 24 hours. We’ll enjoy the next two weeks and then after that, we want to be like New Zealand, to be consistent,” he added.
“We really needed some good news,” he said, referring to the “many challenges” faced by his country.
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