Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit has the ideal chance against Australia to display what once made him the best rugby player in the world, writes MARK KEOHANE.
The 66-Test World Cup winner will start in a powerful loose trio with Bok captain Duane Vermeulen and opensider Marco van Staden in the Rugby Championship opener at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Du Toit, the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, left the DHL Stormers two years ago for Japanese Top League side Toyota Verblitz after making 59 appearances for the Cape side from 2016 to 2021.
In his TimesLIVE column, Keohane argues the standard of the Japanese league cannot be compared to the likes of the Top 14, Premiership or Vodacom URC, so this weekend’s clash in Pretoria is the perfect stage for Du Toit to make an “on-field statement”.
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“Four years on and the aura of Du Toit doesn’t fill the room like it did in Japan during the World Cup, but it only takes one dominant and imposing display to bring to life the memory of his explosive 2019 season,” he writes.
“A serious leg injury threatened his career, and there was even talk of possible amputation from the post surgery infection, and then a thumping tackle from Duhan van der Merwe cut short his British & Irish Lions Test series.
“The comeback internationally was completed once his fitness was confirmed in 2022, but playing in Japan has meant that Du Toit has not been an obvious weekend viewing face for South African rugby supporters.
“Du Toit’s adaptability to the physical demands of Test rugby will be the most interesting aspect of his performance against Australia’s Wallabies.
“His playing pedigree and on-field class can never be questioned, but what Du Toit must show is that he is as good in 2023 as he was in 2019. If he does that, the Boks will be in an even healthier position.”
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*Predictions must be made before kickoff. pic.twitter.com/1USShG02Ca— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 7, 2023
It’s all about altitude and attitude as @mark_keohane and Zels make their picks for the Boks’ Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies. pic.twitter.com/6zosHwNjtk
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 6, 2023
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