VIDEO: Irish insight won’t change stark fact for Springboks

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Springbok prop Thomas du Toit is one of a host of South African players who ply their trade abroad and know the conditions in Ireland well.

They know the Irish players and face them week in and week out in the different competitions they play in – be it the Premiership, the European Cup, or the United Rugby Championship.

But beating the Irish giants at the Aviva Stadium is not something Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’s team has been able to do since he has coached the national side.

Ireland’s coach Andy Farrell has moulded his team into the fourth-best team in the world, and the Springboks are up against one of their toughest rivals on the end-of-year tour.

The 30-year-old Du Toit joined Premiership leaders Bath from the Sharks in 2023 and was a pivotal member of Johann van Graan’s treble-winning 2025-26 season.

He scored 21 tries in 52 appearances for the West Country outfit and was nominated for the Premiership player of the season last year.

He will return to the Sharks when his contract expires at the end of next season to reunite with the club whose academy he progressed through before making his senior debut in 2014.

Two stalwarts in the Springbok side, RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn (Munster), are with Irish provinces. Snyman formerly played for Munster and is now part of Leinster’s team, where former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber serves as coach.

On Tuesday, Du Toit told reporters that it definitely helps to know the Irish players, and it is beneficial in their preparation for the upcoming encounter, also having Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery in their coaching setup.

*Article continues below…

Both these coaches played for Munster and Ireland, and there is no doubt that they would’ve shared their insight into Irish rugby with the Springbok team.

“From a forward perspective, he [Snyman] brings quite a bit of expertise. He knows the players well and gets coached alongside them.

“For me, it has been a game-changer. It’s been exceptional, and I’ve learned so much over the last two-and-a-half years. Just speaking about the conditions and playing in this type of weather week in and week out is important.

“Especially in a game like this. And playing against different opposition in the Premiership has been tough because it’s a very tough competition. It feels like you play a final every week.

“Everyone who has played in the Premiership before and currently feels it is advantageous to play in that competition when these types of games come up.

The Springboks have had to have very tough outings in the lead-up to facing Ireland after beating France and Italy, but Du Toit feels Ireland will be a different kettle of fish.

“There are a couple of things that would be very similar to what we faced against France and Italy, both being unbelievably physical sides,” Du Toit said.

“The one thing that might be a little bit different is [that they have] more of a structured game – structure within structure.

“From my time playing over here [with Munster, Toulouse, and Bath], and speaking to the guys who play here currently, they really understand their game very well. They understand their general play, and they also understand their set-phase plays.

“They understand a couple of phases ahead. They know who they want to target. So that’s probably going to be a little bit different.

“But it doesn’t really change anything for us. We do our homework as best we can, and we adapt on the day,” the prop explained.

Veteran hooker Bongi Mbonambi and prop Ntuthuko Mchunu joined the Springboks on Sunday in preparation for the two remaining Tests against Ireland and Wales.

Du Toit said it was special having them back in the squad.

“We are fortunate to have them back, having been in the system before. Bongi is unbelievably experienced, and having him, who’s played against Leinster and Ireland before, is fantastic.”