Bath-built Du Toit gives Boks crucial edge against England

Fresh from three seasons in the English Premiership, Springbok prop Thomas du Toit has become one of South Africa’s most valuable intelligence sources ahead of Saturday’s Test against England, warning his teammates not to be fooled by their opponents’ recent results.

Du Toit spent the last three years scrummaging against and alongside many of England’s internationals and has given the Springbok coaching staff a first-hand assessment of the quality lurking beneath a disappointing Six Nations campaign.

Du Toit will start in the Springbok No.3 jersey against England in their Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus believes Du Toit’s stint at Bath has elevated him into one of the world’s premier tighthead props but insists the Springbok front-rower is still nowhere near his ceiling.

“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. Bath have made him a very valuable team member.

“We know what we are in for this Saturday. England have come here to win; we understand that, and want the victory just as much,” Erasmus said.

England arrive in Johannesburg after their worst-ever Six Nations campaign, which included a historic defeat to Italy, before ending the tournament with an encouraging narrow loss to France in Paris.

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However, Erasmus insists those results are a poor indicator of the challenge awaiting the Springboks.

“Five months after we were smashed, we went to the World Cup and won it. Last year Australia smashed us at Ellis Park, and we went on to win the Rugby Championship,” Erasmus said.

“If you ask Thomas, who plays in that league, and you look at those players, we are under no illusions that it would be an easy run-in for us.”

Erasmus cautioned against judging England purely on statistics or public opinion.

“Obviously, if you just look at past results and stats, and you do not do your homework 100 percent, and you look at a few newspaper articles, TikTok videos and podcasts, then it is easy to just go with the flow and maybe have the wrong opinion.

“The Six Nations was a while ago. Things can change around quickly in rugby. From experience, a week is a long time, never mind a few months.”

Predicting exactly how England will approach the Test remains difficult, Erasmus admitted.

“For me to predict what they’re going to do – we guess and we look at how they played in their last game against France, which they only just lost. They would have believed they could have won.

“It’s difficult to judge. They flew over on Wednesday, so the question is: are they over the altitude? Probably.

“Are they adapting to this altitude? Probably. Are they good players who are young and energetic? Yes, they are.

“Will that fit a nice open running game which they did against France? I think so, but they didn’t win.

“That’s why it’s so difficult to comment on what another coach would do. It’s more about analysing them in facets of the game – defence, scrums, lineouts. You put it in departments and try to win those departments and then hopefully win the game.”

While Du Toit’s knowledge of English rugby has helped sharpen South Africa’s preparations, Erasmus expects Saturday’s contest to be decided by execution rather than reputation, with both sides likely to unveil fresh tactical ideas in the opening Test of the series.