World Rugby Rankings
New Zealand’s inside centre Jordie Barrett (L) is tackled by South Africa’s flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit (C) during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Home » Springboks: PSDT did the work of THREE men in the final

Springboks: PSDT did the work of THREE men in the final

Springboks flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, affectionately known as PSDT, produced an astonishing individual display which goes down in history.

By James Freemantle
30-10-23 12:28
in Sport
World Rugby Rankings
New Zealand’s inside centre Jordie Barrett (L) is tackled by South Africa’s flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit (C) during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Pieter-Steph du Toit produced an astonishing defensive display for the Springboks in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final. PSDT, what a player!

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PSDT COMES UP TRUMPS FOR THE SPRINGBOKS

Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit completed 28 tackles against the All Blacks on Saturday. 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 all the way 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 a RWC.

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RUGBY WORLD CUP Springboks All Blacks pieter-steph du toit
South Africa’s fly-half Handre Pollard (R) celebrates with teammates after South Africa won the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

DU TOIT DOES THE WORK OF THREE MEN

If you divide 208 by the 23 players who took the field by the final whistle, that’s an average of roughly nine tackles per player. PSDT, as he is affectionately known, trebled that average with a bit of change. It was a super-human effort from the 31-year-old who made it his mission to destabilise Jordie Barrett at every opportunity.

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Was that the best defensive performance from an individual player you’ve ever seen? It’ll take some beating.

Hit up James Freemantle for more insights, news, views and commentary.

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