Mark Andrews on PSDT loss

Former Springbok lock Mark Andrews believes the injury to Pieter-Steph du Toit is a big blow to the Springboks' World Cup prospects. BRENTON CHELIN reports.

The season-ending injury suffered by Du Toit against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein could have far-reaching consequences for Springbok rugby. While Heyneke Meyer's squad looks capable of withstanding an injury blow in most positions, No 5 lock is not one of them.

The 22-year-old Du Toit and 37-year-old Victor Matfield were shaping up as the only prospects for the upcoming World Cup. To lose one of the pair, when he had started the season in such sparkling form, places the Springboks in a precarious position.

Andrews, who won 77 Test caps for the Boks as well as the 1995 World Cup, says Du Toit's injury is a worse-case scenario for the Boks.

'It's a huge loss for the Springboks. No disrespect to Jean de Villiers and his standing in South African rugby, but it's as big a loss,' Andrews told SARugbymag.co.za.

'Our chances of winning the World Cup have gone down perhaps 10% after he was ruled out.'

With Du Toit facing another long stretch on the sidelines, the Springboks will need to find a viable replacement. Locally there are few options, with Ruan Botha and the currently injured Stephan Lewies two possible contenders, although neither have shown themselves worthy of an international call-up at this stage of their careers.

Andrews believes Heyneke Meyer might need to look abroad in search for a replacement.

'There's no-one else that stands out for me at the moment. He [Du Toit] is head and shoulders above the rest of the South African second rowers in Super Rugby.

'Perhaps we need to look at getting Andries Bekker back. I haven't seen him play in a couple seasons, but if they can get him back for the end of the Super Rugby tournament, then he would be a good fit. He has the experience and has done it before at international level.'

Du Toit has been one of the standouts for the Sharks despite their slow start to the season, and is the top lineout performer in the competition. However, Andrews believes that it's his physicality that will be missed the most by the Boks, where he remains worried about the ability of the Bok tight five to dominate against top-class opposition.

'The problem for the Boks at the moment is we don't have anyone in the tight five that dominates physically, apart from Bismarck du Plessis,' says Andrews.

'Eben Etzebeth hasn't returned to the form he showed in his first season, while Victor Matfield has never been the greatest when it comes to the physical side of the game.'

'Bakkies Botha used to compensate for him in this regard, but he's gone now. Take nothing away from what Victor has achieved, but Du Toit is a complete second rower – a No 4 and No 5 rolled into one.

'He's not only great in the technical aspects, but physically there are few that can match him. Add to that his presence on the field, and you can see why there's so much hype surrounding him.

'Unfortunately he's had his problems with injuries, but I believe he's still set for a long future at the top.'

The Sharks second rower injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the 36th minute of the Sharks 10-27 victory over the Cheetahs on Saturday.

Early expectations were that Du Toit would miss the rest of the season which meant an end to his Super Rugby season and no Rugby World Cup for the Sharks lock.

However Du Toit has revealed on his Twitter account that he has undergone surgery and that the doctor says provided his rehab goes well he could be back in three months.

"A MIRACLE just happened. Just got home after surgery, everything went well, "said Du Toit in his Twitter feed.

"Doc said I will be able to play in 3 months, if rehabs goes well."

Pieter-Steph du Toit's injury throws the spotlight on Victor Matfield's critical importance to the Springboks in a World Cup context, writes RYAN VREDE.

The Springboks are well stocked in most positions and would be able to absorb the blow of losing players in those positions relatively comfortably. Not so at No 5 lock where Du Toit and Matfield were almost certainly the two picks in that position for the World Cup.

Du Toit, however, won't play again for another three months, possibly longer, after tearing knee ligaments against the Cheetahs on Saturday. It's his second such injury, having missed the bulk of the 2014 season with the same ailment. Meyer had high hopes for Du Toit this season, believing the 22-year-old to be highly competent physically, technically and mentally despite his age and relative inexperience. Indeed Du Toit began the Sharks' campaign strongly and had been building to his best form before the injury.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's knees are likely to be raw in the coming months given the amount of time he will spend on them petitioning the rugby gods to be merciful towards Matfield as far as serious injury is concerned. I asked earlier in the campaign whether Matfield still had what it takes to compete at an elite level. He looked off the pace in the opening rounds but then turned in a throwback performance against the Sharks at Loftus to remind us of his enduring class. Here's to him consistently replicating that form.

The Vodacom Bulls managed Matfield carefully upon his comeback from retirement in 2014, so Meyer should have no concerns on that front for the season ahead. However, the nature of the game is such that there is always the possibility of the veteran lock sustaining a freak, catastrophic injury that would rule him out of the global showpiece.

As far as men that could fill the void are concerned, the Stormers' Ruan Botha looks a promising player and may develop quickly as the tournament progresses. My sense is the World Cup will come too early for him to be a real consideration.

Meyer deeply lamented former Stormers lock Andries Bekker's decision to take up an offer from Japanese side Kobelco Steelers in 2013. He saw the giant second rower as the natural heir to Matfield, consistently extolling his value at lineout time and in general play. The Top League fixture list and match intensity has been kind to Bekker's fragile back. By all accounts he's in good nick and Meyer may have to consider feeling him out about a Test return.

Eben Etzebeth has been utilised in the position from time to time but has not developed to the point where he could lead the lineout. Besides, he is far better deployed in his preferred No 4 role.

Last year Meyer explained in detail to me the importance of having an experienced No 5, citing the ever-growing trend of tries in Test rugby being scored from lineout launches. On attack, he said, that player would amplify their threat, while defensively he would be able to stifle the opposition's plans.

At present, only Matfield fits that bill but at 37 (he'll be 38 by the time the World Cup kicks off) it's a dangerous situation for Meyer being forced to put all his eggs in that particular basket.  

I disagree Rooi......I think we have more than enough lock talent to get by. Personally I would play Willemse at 4 and move Etzebeth to 5 for the Boks. He has played there before and done a good job.

Ruan Botha is playing really well at 5 for the Stormers and I rate Lewies of the Sharks as a 5. He is back from injury soon.

Willemse and Etzebeth as first choices with Botha, Lewies, Lood, Jacques du Plessis and Jean Kleyn fighting for a spot.

The likes of Etzebeth, Lood and du Plessis have all played at 5. 

Agreed on Bekker though, he did mess up his chances of playing many tests for the Boks.....sadly I think his age and having had to live in Matfields shadows all those years must have pissed him off a little and made his move easier

A "minor medical procedure" which required a 3 month layoff. There's your first problem. Minor medical procedures, ligament strains.....don't take 3 months to fix. Face it you said he was going to be playing this week....I merely pasted a report which was carried in every major rugby publication.

This boy has missed his second S15 in a row and we will have to see if he is a factor beyond that. Sternum problems and two knee issues. He is hardly durable.

The egg is all yours.  

Nope...I reproduced the news flash. But this is what we said about the injury:

Sober and actually totally accurate. It was a disaster, he has lost a whole season. But if the cure works, less of a disaster than originally thought. Whereas your view was pure fantasy. Egg Moronic, lots of egg.

Comparing the utterly useless Matfield to the very impressive PSDT is insulting.

Matfield was good in his day but PSDT will prove far better.....much like Etzebeth is doing now, when it comes to comparing him with Bakkies.

This younger generation of locks are even better than potentially the best pair we have had to date in Bakkies and Vic