Boks’ unsung hero Du Toit laying the platform for Louw second-half assault

WILCO Louw has been outstanding coming off the bench for the Springboks over the last three Test matches.

- JOHN GOLIATH

The burly prop had the All Blacks’ pack on skates every time he entered the fray after halftime in New Zealand, while he also produced another powerful display against Argentina in Durban.

But while Louw has earned plenty of praise for his performances, the man he replaced during those Tests has largely flown under the radar - despite anchoring the Bok scrum with equal power and stability.

Thomas du Toit has hardly put a foot wrong as the starting tighthead in the No 3 jersey, and has effectively laid the foundation for Louw to deliver maximum impact once the opposition pack has already been through a half of hard graft.

Winning scrum penalties early in a Test match, when everyone is still sharp and fresh, is much harder than later on. That is Du Toit’s task — to wear down the opposition by attacking every scrum — and he has done a superb job up front.