Jean de Villiers: ‘Pieter-Steph du Toit is now one of the greatest Springboks’
Springboks flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and former captain Jean de Villiers.
Jean de Villiers believes that flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit has put himself among the pantheon of great Springboks after his latest individual accolade.
The back-rower becomes just the fourth male player to win the World Rugby Player of the Year twice, joining All Blacks trio Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Beauden Barrett in that elite list.
Du Toit first claimed the title in 2019 following his side’s Rugby World Cup success in Japan and De Villiers now insists that the 32-year-old should be considered one of the best ever in South Africa.
“The consistency throughout the year, every single game he plays. I think it’s amazing we had three guys nominated, so well done to Pieter-Steph,” he said on the Boks Office podcast. “He’s certainly now up there as one of the greatest in South African rugby.”
Burger in agreement
Fellow Boks legend Schalk Burger, who himself won the award in 2004, “100 per cent” agreed with De Villiers, labelling his achievement as “incredible.”
Burger then went on to make a bold statement, stating that the four nominations should have all been from South Africa.
Du Toit was joined on the shortlist by team-mates Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, with the final nominee being Ireland captain Caelan Doris.
“We should have locked out the four positions,” Burger said. “It’s hard to pick between South Africans, but a little bit of me felt like, ‘let’s give it to Chessy (Kolbe)’.
“It also would have been nice if another South African got his name on the list but we can’t fault Pieter-Steph du Toit because he’s an absolute machine.
“His output, not only this year but for the last five years, is immeasurable.”
Opinion: Pieter-Steph du Toit’s second World Rugby Award settles ‘impossible’ Springboks debate
Despite Du Toit’s success, Burger also had sympathy for Etzebeth, who has been nominated three times without winning it.
“Eben’s been nominated quite a few times now and hasn’t got it over the line, so I feel sorry for him, he really deserves it,” he added.
Etzebeth’s record is in contrast to Burger’s, with the 41-year-old having a 100 per cent record after getting nominated.
The former flanker won it 20 years ago – his first full season of Test rugby – and he explained his feelings about the award.
‘It’s pretty cool’
“It’s a weird one because it’s a team and you get there because of the success of your team, you don’t feel that you’re going to get nominated if you’ve lost seven in a row,” the ex-back-rower said.
“You’re grateful for your team but, if you get there, there’s a part of you that goes, ‘s***, it’s nice to get acknowledged’, so you want to win it.
“It’s awesome to win it. I won it quite young – 21 – my first full international season.
“In 2003, we had the World Cup and I remember I was nominated for U21 player of the year, but Ben Atiga won it, he pipped me.
“I was sitting there and Jonny Wilkinson won it in 03 never thinking that a year later I’ll be able to win it. It was pretty cool.”
