Springboks seek 33-16 response for Du Toit and Nche in Rugby Rivalry

The Springboks will try to produce a better result for Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nche when they face New Zealand again on Saturday, after the All Blacks won the opening Test 33-16. Du Toit is set to reach 100 Tests, while Nche will earn his 50th cap in the second match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at Cape Town Stadium.

The milestones come one week after Damian de Allende became the 10th Springbok to reach 100 Tests. His achievement was overshadowed by the defeat at Ellis Park, which also saw New Zealand move above South Africa as the world’s top-ranked team.

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus said the team’s frustration over the loss had not eased, but insisted that anger alone would not change the outcome. He said the players and coaches had made poor decisions and now needed to prepare thoroughly, address those errors and find answers to the areas in which New Zealand had been stronger.

Erasmus also highlighted the character of the two players approaching their milestones. He described Du Toit and Nche as humble, like De Allende, and said both deserved recognition for reaching major landmarks in their international careers.

Du Toit, a two-time World Player of the Year and two-time World Cup winner, was singled out as particularly low-key. Erasmus said the loose forward rarely speaks much and prefers spending time on his farm when he is not involved in rugby.

The coach’s priority is to ensure that the next milestone match does not carry the same disappointment as De Allende’s centenary appearance. South Africa therefore return to Cape Town needing to correct the mistakes from the 33-16 defeat while giving Du Toit and Nche a result that matches the significance of their achievements.