Pieter-Steph du Toit could become greatest Springbok of all time
Springbok dynamo Pieter-Steph du Toit simply can’t stop collecting awards and accolades. On Sunday night, he bagged the World Rugby Player of the Year for the second time, joining likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Beauden Barrett in doing the ‘double’.
Based on current form, there are probably not enough words to suitably describe just how good he has been for the Springboks over the past 12 to 24 months – making an almost flawless impact in every game he plays in.
It’s also almost gone unnoticed that Du Toit has now reached 86 Test caps, and within the next couple of years, he will undoubtedly become the next Springbok centurion.
And if not for the litany of Tests he has missed due to injury, the multi-talented forward would have surely been challenging Eben Etzebeth to be the most-capped Springbok.
It can’t be forgotten that at the start of Du Toit’s career, he was predominantly plagued by serious knee injuries, and it only took a medical miracle of sorts for him to be able to feature at the 2015 World Cup.
Despite the numerous injury setbacks and comebacks, though, Du Toit has recently been able to enjoy an incredible run of fitness and form – featuring in 28 Tests between 2022 and 2024 (to date).
During this time, he delivered yet another performance for the ages in the 2023 World Cup final, while taking his game to almost limitless heights.
More to come for Springbok star Pieter-Steph du Toit
The versatile forward has recently turned 32-years-old, but when considering his conditioning, fitness and work rate, there is every chance he could make it to the next World Cup if he is well managed.
Knowing his importance to the Springboks, there is no doubt that the national coaches will do everything in their power to get him through to one more global showpiece, in a similar vein to Duane Vermeulen – who featured in 2023 at an older age of 37.
And if Du Toit can stay fit for this period of time, there is every chance he could finish behind Etzebeth as the second-most capped Springbok of all time, while rivalling his teammate to possibly be regarded as greatest Bok ever.
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