Thomas du Toit says sharing a dressing room with a Springbok great as a youngster, inspired him to chase greatness.
The Bath and Springbok front-rower has developed into one of the most versatile props in world rugby, but he credits Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira for setting the standard during his early years at the Sharks.
“It fuels the fire. If you look at a guy like him, he’s one of the best to ever play the game especially on loosehead,” Du Toit said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.
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“I had the opportunity to play with him for a couple of years and I could always look at his work ethic and strive for that. He was a great role model.”
Du Toit, who was named in the World Rugby Dream Team last year, believes he is fortunate to be part of what he considers the finest generation of Springboks.
“I’ve been in this generation of Springbok players that have been the best that South Africa has ever produced, so I still take it as a massive compliment just being involved in the squad,” he said.
“I was training with the likes of Frans Malherbe and Tendai and all the guys I’m playing with now – the likes of Ox [Nché], Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp – in my opinion it’s just the best generation of Springboks that we’ve produced.
“So just having my name mentioned among them, is already a huge compliment.”
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For Du Toit, the formula for staying in Bok coach Rassie Erasmus’ plans is simple.
“My philosophy is I want to serve the team the best way I possibly can through working unbelievably hard and that needs to speak for itself,” he said.
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The post Thomas the Tank: Bok legend fueled my fire appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
