In a display of resilience and strategic acumen, the Springboks began their Nations Championship campaign with a robust 45-21 victory over England at Ellis Park. Pieter-Steph du Toit lauded his team's character in overcoming a persistent English challenge, securing a full tally of log points in the process.
Despite the comfortable margin, Du Toit acknowledged the pressure exerted by the opposing team. "It was a tough game for us. That’s the thing about England – they never stop fighting and we always knew they were going to fight back," he remarked, highlighting the relentless spirit of the English side. He added, "You could see even in the last minute, the last second."
The Boks faced adversity even before the match began, with captain Siya Kolisi sidelined due to a hamstring injury and Eben Etzebeth out following a failed concussion test. Du Toit, shifting from his usual position as blindside flank to lock, assumed the captaincy in their absence.
"We just needed to stick to our plans and execute it as best as we could,”
Du Toit expressed, emphasizing the team's focus on their game plan.The match took an unexpected turn, veering away from the anticipated scrum-heavy contest to an aerial battle. "Scrums are something we would’ve wanted to have a bit more of, but you could see there was a big aerial battle, and a lot of scraps and we tried to execute that as well," said Du Toit, reflecting on the tactical shift during the game.
Returning to the second row was a challenge that Du Toit embraced wholeheartedly.
"Being back at four lock again was quite tough, but of course playing for the Springboks and being able to put on the Springbok jersey is a massive honour,"
he shared, his pride in representing his country evident.After a brief loss of control in the latter part of the first half, the Springboks regained their dominance post-break. "Unfortunately we lost a bit of control towards the second half of the first half, but at the end of the game, we made ourselves proud," Du Toit admitted, pleased with the team's ability to reclaim their authority on the field.
The Ellis Park crowd, numbering 52,700, provided unwavering support, something Du Toit was quick to appreciate. "South African fans are the best and hopefully we can make them proud for the rest of the season," he concluded, acknowledging the role of the home supporters in their triumph.