Springbok prop Thomas du Toit stressed on Wednesday that the team had put their 67-30 victory against Argentina in Durban behind them and said they expected an enormous battle against the Pumas on Saturday when the Castle Lager Rugby Championship concludes at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
He also insisted that although the match would be hosted on neutral ground for both teams, both sides had good support in London, which would contribute to a fantastic tournament finale.
With Du Toit plying his trade at English club Bath, he said that he expected a well-balanced crowd at the match.
“I play club rugby in the UK, and we have a great support base here, so for me it is almost in a sense like playing a home game,” said Du Toit.
“But Argentina also enjoy good support here, so we are expecting to see a lot of Argentina flags on Saturday.”
The Boks may be entering the match as the favourites with a one-point lead in the standings over New Zealand, who will face Australia earlier on Saturday in Perth. Du Toit cautioned against fans expecting a similarly big win against a quality Argentine outfit this week.
“We approach each match as a new block, so this week we trained as though we would for any other Test week,” said Du Toit.
“It was all about going back to basics for us and sticking to our processes because last week’s result is history. This is a new game and a fresh challenge, so what happened in Durban has no significance.”
On a personal note, Du Toit, who has become a regular feature in the team this season, spoke highly of the depth in the squad and how Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has built a team with players who could give their all with the way he uses his replacement bench.
“I’ve always understood my role in the team, whether I start or play off the bench, and it’s been an incredible journey to be part of this squad and the Rugby Championship,” said Du Toit.
“It’s also great knowing that one can go on the field and empty your tank with the knowledge that someone equally efficient will come onto the field, and that makes this team very special.”
Both players preferred to focus on the task at hand on Saturday – to hopefully defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title - following the announcement of the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw process in Australia by World Rugby earlier on Wednesday.
“The Rugby World Cup is two years away, so we cannot look too far ahead,” said De Allende.
“This week is the most important game of the year for us so far. It is essentially a Final for us, so as a team, all our energy will be going to being prepared as well as we can for this match.”
Du Toit added: “Success is very important for us, and it will always be for the Springboks. The RWC may be in the back of our minds, but the most important game for us for now is this weekend, so although it’s exciting, we cannot focus on what will happen in two years.”