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Home » WATCH Top World Rugby Awards for Springboks, Pieter-Steph Du Toit and Rassie Erasmus

WATCH Top World Rugby Awards for Springboks, Pieter-Steph Du Toit and Rassie Erasmus

TOKYO – South African flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was named World Rugby player of the year at a glitzy ceremony in Tokyo on Sunday, with Rassie Erasmus claiming the coaching award, fresh from securing the World Cup title on Saturday. Du Toit was a colossus for the Springboks during the World Cup and dominated the […]

By Reuters
03-11-19 18:57
in Fab South African Stuff
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TOKYO – South African flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit was named World Rugby player of the year at a glitzy ceremony in Tokyo on Sunday, with Rassie Erasmus claiming the coaching award, fresh from securing the World Cup title on Saturday.

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit scores their first try during match against New Zealand on September 21, 2019. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit scores their first try during match against New Zealand on September 21, 2019. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Du Toit was a colossus for the Springboks during the World Cup and dominated the breakdown during the final win over England, helping South Africa secure seven turnovers and proving a menace for the English throughout the match.

He also made 11 tackles and set up fellow player of the year nominee Cheslin Kolbe for the decisive final try in the 32-12 win.

WATCH Pieter-Steph du Toit: World Rugby Player of the Year

“This is probably one of the best moments of my life,” said Du Toit.

“I think it is the two biggest experiences in the rugby world that you can get. It is as unbelievable experience for me and I couldn’t be happier at the moment.”

Erasmus, who will be stepping down as South Africa coach to return to his role as the country’s director of rugby, not only secured the Springboks’ third World Cup title but also led them to a first Rugby Championship win since 2009.

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus and South Africa's RG Snyman pose with the Webb Ellis Cup they celebrate winning the world cup final.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus and South Africa’s RG Snyman pose with the Webb Ellis Cup they celebrate winning the world cup final. REUTERS/Matthew Childs

Under Erasmus, South Africa have only lost once in 2019, in the pool stages to old rivals New Zealand.

When he took over in March 2018, South Africa were ranked seventh in the world but they have returned to their traditional forwards-based game with extraordinary results.

“This has been a long journey to keep believing and trusting and not getting frustrated with each other, keeping the belief going,” said Erasmus.

“For me, it is significant that, no matter what, the boys always kept South Africa above their own interests, above their own egos and always kept the Springboks and South Africa’s interests up there.”

WATCH Rassie Erasmus – World Rugby Coach of the Year

Unsurprisingly, given their success over the past 12 months, South Africa also collected the team of the year award.

Captain Siya Kolisi collected the award on behalf of his team.

WATCH Siya Kolisi collect World Rugby Team of the Year award

WATCH Springboks Welcomed – Rugby World Cup 2019 Champions

“I think it is probably going to sink in when we get home and see how people are back at home,” said Kolisi.

“They have really been driving us, they have been behind us. I think coach said it earlier – they have been a huge part of our success as a team and we are looking forward to going back home and celebrating with them.”

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Erasmus’ South Africa game plan gets thumbs up from ex-Boks

Ex-internationals praised Erasmus for ignoring the criticism of his game plan, and said he was vindicated by the victory in Saturday’s final at Yokohama.

“It doesn’t matter what way we played, because we won this game,” said Jean de Villiers, who captained the South Africa team that finished third at the last World Cup in 2015.

“You formulate plans that you know will be good enough to win games and win trophies and they did that.”

Winger Akona Ndungane, who was in the last South Africa side to win the World Cup in 2007 when they also triumphed against England, said: “He (Erasmus) had a plan and he stuck with it from the start of the tournament up until the end.

“The media attacked the players for kicking too much and said the game plan was boring. No one will now remember how many box kicks Faf did or many knock -ons Willie did.”

Former Bok flyhalf Butch James added: “It was a low risk game plan and we tried to outmuscle the opposition.

“Rassie stuck to his guns, even when he was taking a lot of flak for it. The players were taking flak but they ignore the criticism and put on a performance like that today,” he said.

Famed flyhalf Naas Botha said the victory was set up by the powerful tight five. “The way they played yesterday they really laid a platform for South Africa to excel from there. It was a team effort and that’s what you want.”

The Springboks’ Privilege of Creating Hope…

Erasmus has also touched many hearts around the world, speaking about the privilege – rather than pressure – of helping to create hope for South Africans. He said: “In South Africa pressure is not having a job. Pressure is one of your close relatives being murdered. In South Africa there’s a lot of problems which is pressure and we started talking about things like that, and rugby shouldn’t be something that creates pressure on you. Rugby should be something that creates HOPE.” (Watch below.)

(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Toby Davis and Jenni Baxter)