Springbok lock Pieter-Steph du Toit’s journey back to the national team after a devastating knee injury is the stuff that miracles are made of.
While the lock battled his way back from torn cruciate ligaments that almost certainly had put him out of the Rugby World Cup, the story of how he returned to play a test match just more than a 100 days after being injured is an amazing one involving an operation that has never been done in South Africa before and a father who gave up more than most to give his son a chance of playing at this year’s World Cup.
Du Toit probably never had such a low point in his life as on the 14th of March this year, where he twisted his knee in the Cell C Sharks 29-10 win over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. His World Cup dream looked over.
While lying on the field waiting for the stretcher he asked the team doctor Dr Alan Kourie if his cruciate ligaments were off – or torn so badly that he needed an operation.
“We’ll take it as it comes,” the doctor replied.
Later that night the scan confirmed the worst, that Du Toit’s ligaments were torn, and that the normal rehabilitation period was six months, a period that would have put him virtually out of contention for a World Cup place.
But a chance discussion with the surgeon – Dr Willem van der Merwe – and his father Pieter du Toit’s decision to accompany him to the appointment changed everything, and showed the sacrifice a parent is willing to make for his children.
With a replacement ligament three weeks away, Du Toit’s father spontaneously offered to donate his own, to the surprise of the doctor, and set in motion the events that will see the lock heading to the World Cup. (Given this old ligament Du Toit now has one expects Dr Mozzzz to do a flip flop and start supporting Steph!)
“Initially we would have had to wait for a cadaver to get a replacement ligament,” Du Toit explains, “That would have taken three to four weeks. But it was coincidental that my father went with me to the doctor’s appointment, and he asked if he could donate his ligament. Nobody had thought about it until then, that it could work.
“The doctor phoned his colleagues in America and after consulting with them, they decided to go ahead. They did the scope and my dad was on the bed next to me. They did the operation and it went well. Otherwise we would have waited another three to four weeks.
“My dad jokes that he has a part of my contract at the moment, that he deserves a percentage of it,” the big lock laughs, “but those three or four weeks were the big difference why I am here today. He became a Springbok as well.”
The result was an operation that had never been done in South Africa before, groundbreaking medical technology which literally cut the recovery time down to three months, an exceptional difference in the life of a modern sportsman. (Du Toit has to be thankful he wasnt living in nz as he would have taken a year to recover in those backwoods!!)
“Last time I was out of action for 11 months and this time I was out for three and a half months – with torn cruciate ligaments. My knee is good – when I’m warmed up and raring to go its good, and when I’m off the field and I train hard, there is a bit that I have to manage,” Du Toit admits, but just the mere fact he is back quicker than expected is something that brings out the big smile on his face. (One hopes all goes well with Du Toit otherwise Dr Mozzz will be arguing that the ligament was too young and should have been taken from a an old man's cadaver!)
Now that he has made it into the World Cup squad, Du Toit is a lot more philosophical about his situation, especially having undergone five operations for injuries in as many years.
“I had a difficult time with injuries as well. I had an operation for every year I’ve been in Durban. I had five operations in five years – two ankle ops, a chest op and two knee ops. It was very difficult but it taught me to vasbyt, to carry on and to learn to do things on my own.
“All my injuries were freak accidents and I’ve always been one who can look past these things. I get over it and know I have to train hard and do rehab. In the last two years I’ve learnt a lot about vasbyt and patience. You learn a lot about yourself in these situations and it is something that only you can sort out, to get your head straight and make yourself stronger.”
But while there is a wave of expectation about his abilities, the young lock is happy to wear that mantle. (Dr Mozzz hasnt caught up with events yet but could make it by the end of the RWC?)
“It’s lekker that people expect a lot from me. It gives me a peaceful feeling that people believe in you. Nobody can take it away from me that I have talent and that I was good in the past. I will just work harder in the future to get back to that point. “
The Riebeeckstad lock has been selected for the Rugby World Cup as a utility forward, with his ability to play both blindside flank and in the second row, but he is clear about where he wants to play.
“I enjoy five because it gives you a bit of responsibility. You have some extra work in analyzing the opposition’s lineouts but I enjoy 7 as well. When I was Grade 11 they asked me to play lock and I didn’t want to. So I was dropped to the second team and by the time we finished the season I was playing flank for the first team. I prefer lock, but seven is something I enjoy. Lock is the position I want to grow as a player though,” he adds.
Du Toit will return to the Stormers after the World Cup, to be closer to his family and his long-time girlfriend, and to rejoin the family wine business as well. But the reaction of him leaving the Sharks was something he didn’t count on.
“It hurts sometimes when people don’t understand why you make decisions,” Du Toit says adding that he felt it was time to return home. (These guppies are nasty pieces of work I am sure most here will agree!!)
For now the World Cup is the priority, and the fact that Du Toit is boarding the plane to England should be celebration in itself. But having been given a second lease on life he now wants to make a difference and a contribution in the Bok campaign.
With his fellow young Bok locks in Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth the Boks will be equipped for the setpiece battle like never before.(PLEASE NOTE DR MOZZZZZZ)
You can add in Willemse and Jaque Du Plessis. We shall also see how Ruan Botha and Jean Kleyn develope.
Well itsa great story all round and I do hope Dr Mozzz comes to his senses soon. His punting of pap victor 105 kg and 38 years old is also an indication that Dr Mozzz is battling to understand lock play! Perhaps Dt Mozzz is caught ina time warp. After all the great Frik Du Preez was only 106 kg. But all should know things have progressed since then. Sigh!
