Du Toit: I'm a tighthead
In an interview with the Sharks website he said he prefered playing tighthead prop as he had played in that position since his school days.
Springbok tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis has been du Toit's mentor at the Durban-based Sharks and the 20-year-old credits the veteran prop in his decision to switch positions.
"I think a big thing for me wanting to move to tighthead was the inspiration that Jannie du Plessis gave me as a player and a person," du Toit admits.
"In my opinion, he is the best tighthead I have come across. He has helped me hugely. I have enormous respect for Jannie."
Du Toit believes that his physique is better suited to anchoring the scrum, although he wasn't out of place at loosehead prop.
"I enjoyed loosehead but to shift to the other side of the scrum offers new possibilities and I am loving the challenge of learning what it takes to make it in this position," du Toit said.
Not only has du Toit been able to learn from his mentor but the latter’s departure to France, at the conclusion of the World Cup later this year, opens the door for him to make the Sharks No.3 jersey his own.
This weekend they’re up against a big Pumas pack and du Toit is relishing the chance to take on the challenge.
"Our scrum is a work in progress but we feel we are improving week by week and while this might be seen as a big challenge for us, we view it as an opportunity to show what we can do," he added.
