Bok legend debunks 'century curse' as Du Toit celebrates milestone
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to earn his 100th Test cap when the Springboks take on the All Blacks at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The two-time World Cup winner, who hails from Malmesbury, will become only the 11th Springbok to reach the milestone.
It has been an incredible 13-year journey for Du Toit, who has established himself as one of the most prolific players in the modern game.
He has won World Rugby’s World Player of the Year award twice, in 2019 and 2024, while his performance in the 2023 World Cup Final against the All Blacks will go down in history as one of the finest performances by a loose forward.
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Du Toit made more than 20 tackles in that Final and played a key role in helping the Springboks secure their second consecutive World Cup title.
This weekend, however, the 34-year-old has the opportunity to make history in more ways than one – by becoming the first Springbok to reach the 100-cap milestone against New Zealand and record a victory.
To date, four of South Africa’s 10 Springbok Test centurions have faced the All Blacks in their 100th Test – and all four have walked away as losers on the day.
Percy Montgomery became the first-ever Springbok centurion on August 16, 2008, when he started at fullback against the All Blacks at Newlands. The visitors won the Tri Nations match 19-0.
John Smit was the second Springbok to play 100 Tests when he captained the side against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on August 21, 2010. The Boks lost 29-22.
Jean de Villiers became the fifth Springbok Test centurion on September 13, 2014. De Villiers’ 100th Test came against the All Blacks in Wellington, a match the Springboks lost 14-10.
And just last week, Damian de Allende became the 10th Springbok centurion against the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, where the Boks lost 16-33.
Speaking to reporters at ‘An Evening with the Centurions’, hosted by Peregrine Capital at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), Springbok legend Victor Matfield dismissed the idea of a ‘century curse’.
According to Matfield, the pressure surrounding a milestone Test is real – but the team must remain the priority.
“I think it’s a media thing.” Matfield stated, adding: “The pressure is always there, but I think, as a team, you don’t want to focus on the individual. It’s what the team needs.
“It’s Pieter-Steph du Toit’s 100th this weekend and, of course, they’ll celebrate his 100th game. It’s big, but it’s all about the team.
“We want to win. We play in the Springbok jersey, the country expects us to win, and that’s the focus.
“The focus is not about the guy playing his 100th, and we want to win for him.
“All those players can tell you as well; it’s not about them, it’s about the team. And if you’re there with a team, and the team wins, it’s so much more special.”
Matfield recalled his own 100th Test and the decision to keep the focus firmly on the result.
“To be honest, I remember going into my 100th, Peter de Villiers [former Springbok coach] was like, ‘Do you want to be captain?’ I said, ‘Make John Smit the captain, he’s our captain, we just need to win.’”
Unlike his counterparts Montgomery, Smit, de Villiers and de Allende – who all lost against the All Blacks in their 100th Tests – Matfield celebrated his own milestone with victory.
He won his 100th Test against Italy on August 28, 2010.
“The week before I played my 100th, John played his 100th. It’s just unbelievable to be able to celebrate something like that.
“It’s unbelievable and I think it’s something you dream of.”
