Ex-All Blacks captain singles out ‘rare breed’ Springboks star as the best he faced after playing against two generational teams
Springboks Pieter-Steph du Toit and an inset of ex-All Blacks captain Sam Cane.
Legendary All Blacks flanker Sam Cane has singled out Pieter-Steph du Toit as the standout Springboks player he faced during his international career.
The 34-year-old’s international career spanned over 12 years, with the loose forward squaring off against South Africa on 16 occasions during that time.
The start of his career overlapped with many of the 2007 World Cup-winning Springboks who also claimed a British and Irish Lions series victory two years later, while he spent the prime years playing against the squad that won back-to-back trophies in 2019 and 2023.
Sam Cane hails ‘rare bread’ Pieter-Steph du Toit
He fronted up against some of the greatest names in Springboks history, particularly in the back-row, going up against the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and many others. However, Du Toit was the opponent that stood out the most.
He revealed as much during his appearance on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav when fellow All Black Stephen Donald asked: “You passed over the two great Springbok generations on the back of the Matfield-era and then the new era, who have gone on to win two World Cups. Who are the guys you went up against that stand out for you?”
“Obviously, Pieter-Steph du Toit,” Cane said.
“Particularly in his later years, he had a little bit of a bad injury run early on, or even now he seems to have a bad injury run, but he’s come right and is available for the Boks.
“He is just incredible, like how he’s been able to be so relentless. It’s a little bit like what Schalk Burger was, not that I played against Schalk in his prime – it was the end of his career – but like both massive humans, both got the blonde hair, but just huge, huge engines. They go all day, keep getting up in your face, never take a backward step.”
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Donald likened the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year to ex-All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick, saying: ” When you think about Pieter-Steph is essentially like your great mate Guzzler but a loose forward. That’s the phenomenal aspect to him, isn’t it?”
“Exactly,” Cane remarked.
“Well, when he first started, I always remember it was like, is he a lock? Is he a flanker? He can obviously slip in and play lock, but he’s that sort of athlete. He’s a rare breed.”
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Rivalry with the Springboks
While being fierce opponents on the pitch, the former captain says that he always enjoyed catching up with the Springboks after the match.
“As much as the rivalry on the field is as intense as ever, it’s always one of those changing rooms you look forward to after the game,” he said. “Like going in and sharing a beer, and you’re always made to feel so welcome when you walk in that they give you a beer straight away.
“The rugby is always just left on the field.”
