By CAPE TOWN — The Springboks have firmly closed the chapter on their series-opening heartbreak, turning their full attention toward self-correction as they gear up for a fiercely anticipated clash against New Zealand at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Having wrapped up their high-intensity training module in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, the squad landed in the Mother City for a recovery day before putting the final touches on their preparation during Friday’s traditional captain’s run.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Springbok prop Thomas du Toit made it clear that the squad’s strength lies in its ability to rapidly process setbacks and pivot toward solutions.
“The important thing was to park that game and take the learnings as quickly as we could,” Du Toit said. “I think we’ve done an incredible job over the last couple of years putting each game in its own box and not looking back at what went wrong the whole week, but rather trying to rectify as much as we can and fix things as quickly as possible.”
According to Du Toit, the squad underwent an intensive review process early in the week, directly translating tactical adjustments onto the field during their Johannesburg sessions.
Named on the bench alongside Deon Fourie and Gerhard Steenekamp, Du Toit is mindful of the monumental task awaiting the front-row contingent. Despite showcasing moments of set-piece dominance in the opening encounter, the Bok prop warned against complacency ahead of another grueling breakdown and scrum battle.
“It is going to be interesting, like every other week,” noted Du Toit. “We trained hard this week, and I’m sure the All Blacks have too, and everyone will try to bring their A-game on Saturday. You could definitely see they’ve been working on it… so we’ll do our best, but it’s something both teams pride themselves on.”
Du Toit highlighted the crucial role expected from the replacements, emphasizing that maintaining momentum off the bench is not enough.
“Coming off the bench, it’s not just about staying at the same tempo that the starting guys deliver—it’s about trying to lift that and increase it,” he explained. “Those players did very well last week, but that doesn’t count for anything this week. We need to rectify the mistakes we made and try to build on that dominance, knowing that it starts from the ground up. No points are carried over.”
Beyond tactical adjustments, Saturday carries deep emotional significance for the South Africans. Front-row pillar Ox Nche is set to win his 50th Test cap, sharing the landmark occasion with utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, who becomes just the 11th Springbok in history to reach the legendary 100-cap milestone.
“I’m incredibly grateful for Ox as a player and as a person, and I’m very proud of him earning his 50th—hopefully we can do the job to make it a memorable one for him and Pieter-Steph,” Du Toit added.
Reinforcing the camp’s morale is the return of regular captain Siya Kolisi, who reclaims his place in the starting line-up following a disciplined rehabilitation period. Du Toit praised Kolisi’s maturity throughout his recovery process and the immediate leadership boost his presence provides.
“It’s great to have Siya back,” Du Toit said. “He worked really hard on his rehab… Every time he didn’t feel 100%, he was big enough to say he wasn’t ready and take an extra week for the medical team to look after him properly. That was a very responsible call. He’s very vocal, especially at training, and that gives confidence to the younger guys and the entire team.”
With national pride, major career milestones, and series momentum on the line, the Boks are intent on delivering a statement performance in front of a packed Cape Town crowd.
Kick-off for Saturday’s showdown at DHL Stadium is scheduled for 17:10, with live coverage broadcast nationwide on SuperSport.
