Rassie Erasmus has credited Bath for helping transform Thomas du Toit into one of the world’s leading tightheads, but believes the Springbok prop has even more to offer.
Du Toit will start in the Springbok No 3 jersey against England in their Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday.
“Thomas has come a long way with us,” Erasmus said on Monday. “In 2019, he didn’t make the World Cup squad. Some of his family had already gone to the World Cup [in Japan] to watch him, but he wasn’t there initially because we had to make a very close selection call. Then Trevor Nyakane got injured and Thomas flew in.”
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Erasmus praised the 31-year-old’s professionalism and willingness to reinvent himself, and also how his English Premiership club Bath, under former Springbok assistant coach Johann van Graan, refined his game.
“Thomas is a student of the game, a very professional guy,” Erasmus said. “Bath have made him a very valuable team member.
“Early in his career, Tendai Mtawarira and Ox Nché were playing so well at loosehead that we advised him to move to tighthead. Otherwise, where was he going to play if he wanted to play for the Boks?”
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At Bath, Du Toit developed into one of the Premiership’s most feared scrummagers, while his ball-carrying and prolific try-scoring exploits drew wide praise.
“He kept winning Player of the Match awards and scored a heap of tries,” the Bok coach said. “But as well as he played in England, he must move up another level and do it for us.”
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Erasmus also backed rising Stormers prop Zach Porthen, who is set to provide impact off the bench.
“We think Zach is a really good player, especially in the scrum,” he said. “He’s learned a lot from Wilco Louw and Thomas, and he’s scrumming against our top guys every week and doing a great job.
“We believe he can make a real impact against England, especially at altitude.”
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Photo: Sam Barnes/Getty Images
The post Rassie: Thomas the Tank must hit another level appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Rassie Erasmus has credited Bath for helping transform Thomas du Toit into one of the world’s leading tightheads, but believes the Springbok prop has even more to offer.
The post Rassie: Thomas the Tank must hit another level appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
