Time for the Springboks to break their All Blacks ‘centurions curse’
Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the 11th Springbok to reach 100 Test caps on Saturday, but history is against him, with the previous four Boks to mark their century against the All Blacks all suffering defeat.
The Springboks face a crucial moment on Saturday as Pieter-Steph du Toit prepares to reach his 100th Test cap, joining a list of players who have struggled to win when facing New Zealand in their centurion debut. Du Toit, a Swartland native, becomes the 11th Springbok to reach this milestone, but the pressure mounts with the All Blacks holding a 1-0 series lead.
Historically, none of the previous four Springboks to achieve this feat have secured a victory against the All Blacks, with Percy Montgomery, John Smit, Jean de Villiers, and Damian de Allende all suffering heartbreaking defeats. With the series at stake, South Africa must now rely on Du Toit's exceptional skills and determination to rewrite history.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup final performance, characterized by aggression, physicality, and relentless work-rate, should serve as inspiration for Du Toit and the team. If the Boks cannot secure a win on Saturday, concerns may arise about the suitability of future centurion players facing New Zealand. The outcome of this critical Test will determine whether the 'centurions curse' remains an unwanted reality or if South Africa finally breaks free from its tradition of defeat.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- All Blacks name Carter to replace Moorby against Springboks in 2nd test sports.yahoo.com
- All Blacks name Carter to replace Moorby against Springboks in 2nd test winnipegfreepress.com
