RUGBY
Why Pieter-Steph du Toit is the rugby player coaches dream about
Du Toit’s speed and high work rate are perfect attributes for a backrower‚ but he also brings the power and lineout prowess of a world-class lock
Pieter-Steph du Toit does not really need a number on his back to define himself as a rugby player because the man who started professional rugby as a lock has become a vital dual operator in the Springbok pack. After some tentative experiments with Du Toit at blindside flank in 2012-2017‚ current Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has been more serious about the role for the 1.98m athlete. Du Toit could wear the No 7 against Scotland this weekend, having played lock in the first two matches on tour — the 12-11 loss to England and the 29-26 win over France. Du Toit’s speed and high work rate are perfect attributes for a backrower‚ but he also brings the power and lineout prowess of a world-class lock.
In many ways he is the perfect hybrid player and because he is so comfortable in both positions‚ Erasmus has flexibility when it comes to reserves. The coach can go for two locks on the bench‚ or he can have two loose forwards. Du Toit is the ultimate team man and though he always makes th...
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