CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 08: Johan du Toit of the Stormers offloads during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls at DHL Newlands on February 08, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Johan du Toit is ‘maybe 5% less tough’ than PSDT: Laker
Johan du Toit is an option to replace his illustrious brother Pieter-Steph in the Stormers XV that will take the field against the Sharks this weekend.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 08: Johan du Toit of the Stormers offloads during the Super Rugby match between DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls at DHL Newlands on February 08, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Stormers assistant coach Norman Laker feels that Pieter-Steph du Toit’s brother Johan will make an able replacement for the World Rugby Player of the Year when the Cape side visit the Sharks.
Laker said that Johan still had some way to go to match his brother in all departments, but he is at the very least just as quick if not quicker than the Springbok star.
‘Little’ brother Johan du Toit ready for the big stage
Pieter-Steph has been ruled out for a long spell, and the Stormers will be hoping his brother can help make up for his absence.
“Johan is a phenomenal worker, and I am not sure which one is quicker, Johan or Pieter. They always fighting among each other about that,” he said. “Pieter-Steph’s height is obviously a bit different to Johan’s, but Johan’s work-rate and his speed around the park is just astounding.
“A lot of what he does may be unseen by most rugby people and the rugby public at large. Sometimes he plays at No 6, sometimes at No 7, and in the warm-up game against the Kings, he played No 8. His work-rate is always unbelievable. I am not going to say he is going to play No 7 against the Sharks but if he does he will be a very good substitute to have.
“He is a tough player. Maybe not quite as tough as Pieter-Steph as a ball-carrier. Maybe five per cent less tough all-round than Pieter-Steph. But that is saying something. You’d expect that though because they come from the same mother and father.”
Laker said the loss of the Springbok loose-forward was a big blow to his side, but was something franchise’s need to be prepared for as injuries are part of the game.
“Pieter-Steph is a big loss for us. He is a phenomenal leader and of course he is the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year. Pieter-Steph is not a player you can really substitute,” said Laker.
“But there are guys in the system who have been getting ready to fill that role if they are needed to and the guy who will take over from Pieter-Steph on Saturday has been doing it phenomenally (in training). So we are confident that the guy who steps into Pieter-Steph’s shoes will be doing the same job that was require of him. It is a guy who deserves a chance to show what he can do.”
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