All Blacks legend hopes Springboks ‘curse’ continues as Pieter-Steph du Toit celebrates ‘remarkable achievement’
Springboks forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and an inset of All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick.
Pieter-Steph du Toit attempts to make history on Saturday by becoming the first Springbok to reach the 100-cap milestone against New Zealand and not lose.
The two-time World Cup winner completes a 13-year journey to three figures when he starts the second Test against the All Blacks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Out to buck the trend
Hailed by Rassie Erasmus as a “pillar of strength” for South Africa “on and off the field”, du Toit knows the importance of victory, given defeat would end Bok hopes of winning this inaugural Greatest Rivalry series.
But reversing last week’s resounding defeat in Johannesburg will require the twice World Rugby Men’s 15 player of the year to also turn the tide of history.
Of the 10 Springboks to reach 100 caps, four did so against New Zealand and each ended their big day on the losing side.
Percy Montgomery was the first, in Cape Town on 16 July 2008, when the All Blacks were visitors to Cape Town and won the Tri Nations match 19-0.
Next came John Smit, the Boks’ 2007 World Cup-winning captain. His big moment arrived at Soccer City in Soweto on 21 August 2010. Again the Kiwis were the opposition and again they won, this time 29-22.
Four years later was the turn of Jean de Villiers to bring up a ton of caps against South Africa’s greatest rivals. The match was played in Wellington and despite leading at half-time, the Boks lost the game 14-10.
Not all centurions ended their day in disappointment. There were wins for Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Willie le Roux and Siya Kolisi. But none were playing New Zealand.
Damian de Allende was, however. Last week at Ellis Park. We all remember what happened there.
So now is the turn of Du Toit to try and lift the curse. He won a World Cup final against the All Blacks in 2023, he also started in the 7 jersey when the Boks handed the All Blacks a record loss on home soil in Wellington last year.
“It is a remarkable achievement to play 100 Test matches, and for Pieter-Steph to deliver week in and week out the way he has over the years is incredible,” Erasmus said this week.
All Blacks legend unaware of the curse
All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick admits he was unaware of the All Black-centurion ‘curse’ until it was pointed out to him by Bryan Habana, South Africa’s record try scorer, this week.
Fitzpatrick, chair of the Laureus Academy, was chatting with Habana, chair of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and another Bok 100-capper, when the subject came up.
“Hopefully that may continue!,” was Fitzpatrick’s response.
South Africa have been forced into a major reshuffle on the eve of battle, with fly-half Handre Pollard picking up a “niggle” in training and being replaced by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who had been dropped to the bench. Manie Libbok comes into the 23.
A second major change to the team named on Monday sees Cheslin Kolbe also restored to the starting line-up after recovering from injury, in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Cynics might question whether Erasmus has been playing mind games with selection, having named his side so soon after the Ellis Park loss.
Fitzpatrick accepts there is a “chance” New Zealand might ease off a fraction, having triumphed in one of rugby’s most intimidating environments last weekend and now being in a city where so much All Black support resides.
“But I’d much rather be one-up than one-down in this series,” adds the man who captained the ‘Incomparables’ to series glory in South Africa in 1996.
“Look, the All Blacks have won nothing yet,” he tells Planet Rugby. “They realise the challenge ahead. They know what’s coming. We’re not going to get away again with giving away six scrum penalties in the first half.
“But I don’t think the boys will take it easy. There’s a good attitude within the camp, there’s pressure on positions. They won’t underestimate what South Africa did in that first 30-35 minutes last week.
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“They will know they could have put the game away in that time had they been a bit smarter in terms of the way they used their dominance at scrum time.”
If New Zealand cope with all the Boks throw at them they will, at worst, share the series.
If they don’t, the Greatest Rivalry will be back to all square and Pieter-Steph du Toit will make history by celebrating a 100th cap win over the men in black.
South Africa’s centurions and result of 100th cap
Percy Montgomery – lost NZ 0-19, Newlands 2008
John Smit – lost NZ 22-29, Soweto 2010
Victor Matfield – won Australia 44-31, Pretoria 2010
Bryan Habana – lost Australia 23-24, Perth 2014
Jean de Villiers – lost NZ 10-14, Wellington 2014
Tendai Mtawarira – won England 23-12, Bloemfontein 2018
Eben Etzebeth – won 30-14 Wales, Cape Town 2022
Willie Le Roux – won Italy 48-0, Gqeberha 2025
Siya Kolisi – won France 32-17, Paris 2025
Damian de Allende 100 – lost NZ 16-33, Johannesburg 2026
