VIDEO: The Malmesbury Missile in his own words
“One day you wake up and you are going to miss the pain.”
This is one of the quotes from Pieter Stephanus du Toit, the epitome of the vernacularism: ‘Putting your body on the line.’
The double World Cup winner, in a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with Jim Hamilton on RugbyPass TV, revealed much about himself and what drives one of the most iconic figures in the game.
In the 12-11 win over New Zealand in the World Cup Final in Paris in October, the giant South African made 28 tackles.
“He was phenomenal,” was coach Jacques Nienaber’s apt description.
Captain Siya Kolisi said Du Toit was so good, that he just wanted to ‘watch him’.
Nienaber famously said at the post-match media briefing, after the Final, that Du Toit is so ‘energetic’ that he would even chase a plastic bag if the win blew one across the field.
“That is him, the Malmesbury Missile,” the coach said, adding: “He was that tonight [Saturday, October 28], he was a machine.”
That sobriquet is also addressed in one of the most entertaining interviews since October 28.
(WATCH the video trailer of an interview when Pieter-Steph du Toit, Man of the Match in the World Cup Final, goes on a Walk-&-Talk with Jim Hamilton….)
Du Toit said that when you play for the Springboks you have to push yourself till you “physically can’t go anymore.”
“I am not going to lie down.
“It is not who I am. It is not the way I was brought up.”
The 31-year-old Bok utility, who was converted to blindside flank at an early stage in his career after starting out as a lock, also spoke about the famous incident at half-time in the semifinal win over England, when he used some unrepeatable expletives to fire up his team.
However, it transpired that he is one of the quietest me in the team.
“I am a strong believer in that action speaks louder than words,” Du Toit said.
Speaking about his litany of injuries, the bruising forward said you ‘get used to the pain’.
“One day you wake up [and] you are going to miss the pain.”
Du Toit was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019.
He was also Man of the Match in the Final in the Springboks’ successful defence of their World Cup title.
* Watch the video trailer or the full interview, #FREE, on RugbyPass TV!
* Watch all 28 tackles in the World Cup Final!
