Stephen Donald: Why Springboks’ captaincy decision is ‘a bit concerning’ and where Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test will be won

Stephen Donald has given his views on the Springboks’ matchday squad for their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test in Johannesburg against the All Blacks on Saturday and revealed why the decision to hand the captaincy to Pieter-Steph du Toit is “a bit concerning”.

There is plenty of excitement in the build-up to this fixture between the arch-rivals, who are the most successful teams in the history of Test rugby.

New Zealand and South Africa have been battling it out at international level since 1921 and are the two nations with the most successful Test records, with the men in black having a 76% winning record and the Springboks are second best with 64%.

With regular Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi ruled out of Saturday’s Test due to a hamstring injury, head coach Rassie Erasmus brought in rookie flanker Paul de Villiers as his replacement while fellow back-row Du Toit takes over the captaincy.

Former All Blacks fly-half Donald, who represented his country in 25 Tests between 2008 and 2011, revealed that the “concerning” thing about Du Toit in the leadership role stems from his excellence as a player.

“It’s a bit concerning to be fair, but he’s captain because sometimes he just sort of takes games by the scruff of the neck,” he told The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav podcast.

“And you think about World Cup finals of late, he sort of just decides that he’s just going to try and win it by himself at times.

‘It could mean a pretty difficult day’

“So, I hope he doesn’t have that mentality as the captain because it could mean a pretty difficult day (for the All Blacks), but I mean, it’s the Springbok team.”

Donald said he was impressed with the Boks’ line-up and complimented both the backline, forwards and replacements who will be on duty for the home side.

“I guess once we knew Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) was on the return, he was probably going to get there. It’s a great looking backline that, (it) really is,” he said.

“The old firm in the midfield, obviously (Damian) De Allende, his 100th (Test) with his mate there, Jesse Kriel. And then you’ve got the two absolute speedsters on the wing (Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse).

“(Damian) Willemse’s turned into a wonderful rugby player, could have been 12, could have been 15, obviously started as a 10.

“And then you’ve got this monster pack and yeah, there’s a few names not there through injury, but still, that’s where they come in. That’s where we’re going to try and put the heat on and they’ve gone (with) the hybrid player (Andre Esterhuizen). I think he’s been listed in the loose forwards.

“And for me, very interesting too, that still Pollard, I just wondered whether there’s a temptation from a goal-kicking point of view or unless there’s just complete faith, because we know how this Test could end up.

“Well, we know it’s probably going to end up, (I) mean tight. I just mean it’s going to be a tight scoreline. That’s why I’d have been fascinated how close (Handre) Pollard was to getting a bench spot, but in fairness, (Manie) Libbok and obviously Sacha, (are in) wonderful form at the moment.

“Libbok, he’s been so impressive of late. So you can understand it, but I guess the old conservative person in me wondered whether they just had the money man (Pollard) on the bench.”

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Donald believes the battle between Feinberg-Mngomezulu and All Blacks fly-half Ruben Love will be one of the big match-ups of this encounter.

“It’s awesome. Isn’t it? And you know, the hype and carry on around Sacha has been there for a good probably 24 months now,” he said.

“And like the crown of being best first-five in the world is getting closer and closer to his hands, isn’t it? But with Ruben at the moment, I think we talk about some of the boys who’s like the, the storyline and how the year has gone.

“And did we think that (Josh) Moorby was going to be where he is, you know, six months ago?

“Well, the answer was no, but even now Ruben, every time he goes out there, he is just getting better and better. There’s no bigger place to play, but I don’t think Ruben strikes you as someone that’s going to be worried about what he’s walking into on Saturday.

‘I just don’t expect anything to faze him’

“That is the cool thing with him and the swagger that he’s got. The confidence in his own ability, the guys he’s got around him. Well, I just don’t expect anything to faze him.

“Yes, it’s going to be his biggest Test of his life, but he gives you the impression, he just wants it. So it’s exciting.”

Although Donald feels the direct duel between those two playmakers will be one of the highlights of this Test, he is adamant that they neither of them will decide the game’s outcome.

“No, it’s not,” he said when asked if Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Love will win the game for their respective sides.

“I go back to the thought of not an individual, but how much of that 80 minutes the All Blacks can get the game that they want on the pitch. And that’s not through anything to do with them.

“I guess it’s what they’re (the All Blacks) allowed to do. And so they’re obviously going to try and put as much pressure on the Springboks at different aspects of the game to try and create their opportunities.

“So, for me, if the All Blacks can get a share of the ball and a share of time where they can break the game up, that’s where it’s going to be won.

“The greatest amount of time that they can get on counter-attack, on turnover ball, on playing with speed, with being able to make those rucks as quick as they can.

“I’ve already seen, obviously we had the referee consultant come to one press conference. Then I think Felix Jones came to another press conference and talked about some ruck issues that the other teams have had (against New Zealand).

“So, it’s going to be an interesting facet about what happens at ruck time because the markers have been set in the mind games and the referees have been acknowledged.”

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