Thomas du Toit says he is relishing his responsibilities in the front row as the Springboks chase back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time.
The 30-year-old tighthead prop has started the Boks’ last four Tests, getting 63 minutes against the Wallabies in Cape Town, 61 and 42 against the All Blacks in Auckland and Wellington respectively, and 46 against Argentina in Durban last week.
“I’ve always understood my role in the team – whether it’s off the field, on the field, from the bench or starting,” said Du Toit, who has also been utilised by the Boks at loosehead. “For me, it’s been an incredible journey. It’s been really special to be part of the last couple of weeks and matches in that starting position.”
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Du Toit has been replaced in the second half by Wilco Louw, one of the world’s best scrummagers, to great effect.
“It’s such a pleasure knowing that the guy coming on is so destructive at scrum time and really carries himself well around the field,” he said. “So for me, knowing my purpose and knowing my ability for the first 45 to 50 minutes – however long it might be – is brilliant.
“I’m loving my role in the team and I’m very grateful for the guys around me who also pull their weight and make me feel comfortable in this team and in the position I’m in at the moment.”
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Du Toit insisted the Boks are looking only at Saturday’s Rugby Championship rematch against Los Pumas at Twickenham, not their 67-30 triumph at Kings Park.
“We approach each match as a new block, so this week we trained as though we would for any other Test week,” he said. “It was all about going back to basics for us and sticking to our processes because last week’s result is history.
“This is a new game and a fresh challenge, so what happened in Durban has no significance.”
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
