Pieter-Steph du Toit and Mzwandile Stick can’t wait to see what the next generation of potential World Cup-winning Springboks can do after they run out at Loftus on Saturday.
Du Toit is excited by the responsibility of leading an inexperienced Bok lineup against Scotland in round two of the Nations Championship, with several players already looking to stake their claim for the 2027 World Cup.
“It doesn’t put pressure on me, it actually excites me more,” he told reporters on Friday. “I remember being one of the younger guys myself, with that same excitement.
“When you play for the Springboks at Loftus, you’ve got so much energy, and you want to prove a point, and a guy who wants to do that can be dangerous because he’ll do anything for the team.”
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The two-time World Cup winner, set to earn his 97th cap, will form a loose trio with Paul de Villiers, playing just his second Test after debuting last week against England, and Evan Roos on his fifth start.
“Both Paul and Evan are top-quality players, and you can see how much they want to play for the Springboks,” Du Toit said.
“They know exactly what’s expected from them, and then they need to show a bit of X factor, which both of them have.
“Of course the individual has his own goals and dreams, but the best thing each of us can do is to put the team first.”
STICK: Scotland pose bigger threat than England
Stick backs the Boks’ squad depth built by Rassie Erasmus, despite the Scots naming a more experienced match 23.
“All of them have performed well for their franchises and deserve to be rewarded,” the assistant coach said. “It’s a matter of believing in every player in the squad, and when the opportunity presents itself, Rassie is not shy to give players the chance.”
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Stick pointed to the experience in the pack as proof that the Bok side is far from raw: “I know when you look at the team sheet, it looks like it’s an inexperienced team but if I look in the front row, you’ve got a guy like Wilco Louw, one of the best tightheads.
“We’ve got a guy like [loosehead prop] Boan Venter, who understands Scotland very well because he was playing there for Edinburgh.
“A lot of these laaities are excited, and I hope we can give the people of Pretoria a good show.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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Pieter-Steph du Toit and Mzwandile Stick can’t wait to see what the next generation of potential World Cup-winning Springboks can do after they run out at Loftus on Saturday.
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