­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

You are here: Home ∼ ‘Du Toit would be a massive loss’

‘Du Toit would be a massive loss’

Published on March 17, 2015 | Leave a response

Former Springbok lock Mark Andrews believes the injury to Pieter-Steph du Toit is a big blow to the Springboks' World Cup prospects. BRENTON CHELIN reports.

Should Du Toit fail to recover from the knee injury that he suffered against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, the consequences could be far-reaching for Springbok rugby. While Heyneke Meyer's squad looks capable of withstanding an injury blow in most positions, No 5 lock is not one of them.

The 22-year-old Du Toit and 37-year-old Victor Matfield are shaping up as the only prospects for the upcoming World Cup. To lose one of the pair, when he had started the season in such sparkling form, places the Springboks in a precarious position.

Andrews, who won 77 Test caps for the Boks as well as the 1995 World Cup, says that if Du Toit had to be ruled out of the World Cup, it would be a worse-case scenario for the Boks.

'It'll be a huge loss for the Springboks. No disrespect to Jean de Villiers and his standing in South African rugby, but it would be as big a loss,' Andrews told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Our chances of winning the World Cup will go down perhaps 10% if he was ruled out.'

The Springboks were handed positive news regarding Du Toit's injury on Tuesday afternoon, but should his recovery not go as well as expected, the Springboks will need to find a viable replacement. Locally there are few options, with Ruan Botha and the currently injured Stephan Lewies two possible contenders, although neither have shown themselves worthy of an international call-up at this stage of their careers.

Andrews believes Meyer might need to look abroad in search for a replacement.

'There's no-one else that stands out for me at the moment. He [Du Toit] is head and shoulders above the rest of the South African second rowers in Super Rugby.

'Perhaps we need to look at getting Andries Bekker back. I haven't seen him play in a couple seasons, but if they can get him back for the end of the Super Rugby tournament, then he would be a good fit. He has the experience and has done it before at international level.'

Du Toit has been one of the standouts for the Sharks despite their slow start to the season, and is the top lineout performer in the competition. However, Andrews believes that it's his physicality that will be missed the most by the Boks should he be ruled out. Andrews remains worried about the ability of the Bok tight five to dominate against top-class opposition.

'The problem for the Boks at the moment is we don't have anyone in the tight five that dominates physically, apart from Bismarck du Plessis,' says Andrews.

'Eben Etzebeth hasn't returned to the form he showed in his first season, while Victor Matfield has never been the greatest when it comes to the physical side of the game. Bakkies Botha used to compensate for him in this regard, but he's gone now.

'Take nothing away from what Victor has achieved, but Du Toit is a complete second rower – a No 4 and No 5 rolled into one. He's not only great in the technical aspects, but physically there are few that can match him. Add to that his presence on the field, and you can see why there's so much hype surrounding him.

'Unfortunately he's had his problems with injuries, but I believe he's still set for a long future at the top.'

Matfield's stock skyrockets

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images

Posted in Springboks

Post by SA Rugby magazine

SA Rugby magazine

MPU #1 - (DESKTOP SIZE 300x250 / MOBILE SIZE 320x50, 300x250, 320x100)
← Previous Next →

Ratings: Du Toit one of the few standouts for Boks

The Boks faded in the second half to slump to a 22-17...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Duhan should be celebrated for his Lions success

Duhan van der Merwe’s achievements should be truly appreciated by South Africans,...

JdV: Boks-Lions have everything to play for

Performing in empty stadiums will be a key factor in the series...

Dynamic Dayimani: Forward to back

While he has been signed as an ‘edge’ forward, Hacjivah Dayimani could...

Boks have muscle memory to rely on

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are experts at finding solutions to tricky...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Team graphics: Springboks vs B&I Lions
  • Boks vs Lions (1st Test): Predict and WIN!
  • Lions team announcement: Duhan to front Boks
  • Teams: SA A vs Bulls
Boks

Why the Boks should be bullish

There is good reason for the Springboks to enter the British & Irish Lions series with confidence, writes MARK KEOHANE in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

  • Watch: Did Gatland’s words influence Jonker?


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals
×