Peter-Steph du Toit expressed admiration for Damian de Allende on the eve of his hundredth match for the Springboks against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday. Du Toit noted that reaching one hundred matches would be a well-deserved reward for a player he watched transform from a promising young athlete into one of South Africa's most respected veterans.
The Greatest Rivalry in Rugby
De Allende will become the tenth Springbok player to reach one hundred test matches when he takes the field against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday. On this day, Du Toit will also play his ninety-ninth match for the Bok team.
Du Toit stated: 'It is an incredible honor to see Damian play 100 test matches for the Springboks.' He recalled his first meeting with him when he played for the Stormers: 'He played on the wing, and I just saw this guy as a beast, especially how he carried the ball and how he defended. I have immense respect for Damian, for how he behaves on and off the field, and how he has grown as a person.'
Furthermore, Du Toit is impressed by the rapid emergence of Paul de Villiers, who brought energy and a new dimension to the Springboks' tackling trio after his debut against England at the Nations Cup. De Villiers was named Man of the Match upon his debut and continued to demonstrate his abilities in victories over Scotland and Wales.
Du Toit believes that the physical attributes of the 21-year-old player are only part of what made his transition to test rugby so impressive. He noted: 'I would say that one of his strengths is his physical fitness. He is a very durable guy, and he has good speed, and he is very strong, especially when he is over the ball.'
According to Du Toit, the player brings a different kind of strength to the team in the tackle, and his communication skills are also very high. He added that as a young player, he acts like a senior teammate, although not like an experienced Springbok veteran. 'I think he is very comfortable in his body, in his position, in who he is as a person and who he is in the Springboks team. I think that is why he performs so well.'
Before Saturday's match, another powerful moment will be provided by the Haka, especially after the team's assistant coach, Tony Brown, who was born in New Zealand, informed the Springboks about the significance and meaning of this ritual. Du Toit reported that this knowledge only heightened the players' anticipation. 'I would never say that we would be relaxed. It is a huge opportunity and honor to meet the Haka, especially because of what it symbolizes.' He emphasized that for every player, it holds personal meaning, and the team will approach the challenge with respect.