Latest news with #Pieter-StephduToit
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Rassie Erasmus the bearer of good news as Springboks' injury infirmary starts clearing out
FILE - Springboks flank Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to pull on the Springboks jersey next week for the time since November. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers Despite losing Jean Kleyn to injury after the Barbarians clash, the Springboks' injury infirmary is starting to clear out, with a host of key players set to return over the next week. The Springboks have already welcomed back big lock Lood de Jager last week after a two-year absence, while fullback Damian Willemse, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and second-row legend Eben Etzebeth is in the matchday squad for this Saturday's first Test against Italy in Pretoria. But next weekend will see the return of the great Pieter-Steph du Toit, who had been on the sidelines since the Springboks' 2024 November Tour match against England. Du Toit, who is contracted to Toyota Verblitz, missed the Japanese League One season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that the current World Player of the Year is in line to be fit for the second Italy Test in Gqeberha. Quicksilver Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams is also set to feature next weekend after missing the Durban side's United Rugby Championship playoff matches and the Boks' games against the Barbarians and this Saturday's first Test against Italy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The good news for Nelson Mandela Bay rugby fans is that their hometown hero Siya Kolisi also set to return to action in the second Test after a neck injury kept him out of the Barbarians game. The Bok captain was also not considered for this weekend because of an Achilles niggle. Erasmus, however, confirmed his captain should be ready to lead the team out next weekend. 'Siya had a stiff neck, but it's all cleared up. Now he has an Achilles issue. It's not a strain, but he is really stiff there. We just want to make sure he is okay,' Erasmus told a news conference in Pretoria ahead of the Loftus Versfeld clash. 'There isn't a player who will play more than eight or nine matches this year, so we just want to make sure his achilles is 100 percent ready. But it's nothing serious, he had some scans to confirm it. Siya should be back next week.' The only long-term injury concern is tighthead Frans Malherbe, who is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the year. But the Springboks have plenty of cover at tighthead in the big frames of Wilco Louw and Vincent Koch, who has been selected to take on Italy this weekend. Erasmus confirmed yesterday that Kleyn suffered a knee injury against the Barbarians and could be on the sidelines for the next six weeks. Jesse Kriel will continue to lead the Boks in Kolisi's absence, becoming the 67th player to lead the Boks in a Test match when he takes the field on his old stomping ground this weekend.
The South African
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Major injury boost for Springboks
As the Springboks unveiled a strong team to face the Barbarians in Cape Town this Saturday, there was also some other key information shared that is certainly noteworthy ahead of the Test season that gets under way in July. Just over a week ago, star loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit had been released from the camp due to an injury concern, and initial fears were that he could potentially miss the start of the Springboks' international season. However, Du Toit has made a quick recovery, and it was confirmed that he has rejoined the team to prepare for the first two Tests of the year against Italy. Another notable inclusion in the team to face the Barbarians was Lood de Jager, who will partner up with Jean Kleyn in the engine room. The experienced lock is back for his first Test since the Springboks' 2023 Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in New Zealand, which was his only Test in the last two seasons following a string of injuries. Erasmus was pleased to welcome De Jager back after an extended stint on the sidelines: 'Lood is in great form and hopped straight back into the thick of things with the intensity and work rate that we are used to seeing him deliver, and we are thrilled to see him and players like Faf (de Klerk) and Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu) who missed a large chunk of last season back from injury.' Meanwhile, players from the Bulls, as well as RG Snyman (lock), and Handre Pollard (flyhalf), only joined the squad last week following their involvement in the United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership finals. With the Barbarians being a composite team, no Test caps will be awarded for the match. The match kicks off at 17:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The clash against the Barbarians will be followed by two Tests against Italy (on 5 and 12 July) in Pretoria and Gqeberha respectively, and Georgia in Nelspruit on 19 July in the Incoming Series. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
10 elite Springboks started the 2019 AND 2023 Rugby World Cup finals
The Springboks defended their Rugby World Cup crown in 2023. But do you know the 10 players who started the final in 2019 in Japan and the 2023 final in Paris? Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe are the men in question. It points to a seriously impressive level of continuity that 66.6% of those who started in Yokohama also started in the showpiece four years later in the French capital. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit completed 28 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2023 showpiece. To put that absurd number into some type of context, the previous record for tackles made by one player in a Rugby World Cup final was 18 by Richie McCaw back in 2011. To eclipse that mark by 10 is a monumental effort. Collectively, the Springboks made 208 tackles in the final, the most ever in a knockout match at the RWC World Cup. The tireless PSDT makes another tackle. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) The William Webb Ellis trophy isn't for everyone. Here's the honours roll of all champions and the team they vanquished that year. 1987: New Zealand beat France beat France 1991: Australia beat England beat England 1995: South Africa beat New Zealand beat New Zealand 1999: Australia beat France beat France 2003: England beat Australia beat Australia 2007: South Africa beat England beat England 2011: New Zealand beat France beat France 2015: New Zealand beat Australia beat Australia 2019: South Africa beat England beat England 2023: South Africa beat New Zealand Rassie took the Boks back from the brink Who is your favourite player ever to represent the Springboks? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Pieter-Steph du Toit to make comeback for Springboks
Pieter-Steph du Toit's return to action is set to be with the Springboks in June, with the star forward set to miss the rest of the Japanese club season. Du Toit has returned to Japan following shoulder surgery, but reportedly won't be re-registered to play for relegation-threatened Toyota Verblitz. According to the World Rugby Player of the Year, sidelined since November, has rejoined Steve Hansen's squad but cannot feature in their relegation battle after being de-registered to accommodate Michael Hooper's injury-cover signing. ICYMI: PSDT returns to club duty The two-time World Cup winner is expected to participate only in pre-match fan experiences before Verblitz's season finale against Kubota Spears Funabashi. The world champion Boks kick off their 2025 campaign with a friendly against the Barbarians on 28 June, giving Du Toit limited preparation time to regain match fitness before South Africa's July Tests against Italy and Georgia. The post PSDT to make comeback for Boks appeared first on SA Rugby Magazine.
