FILE - Springboks flank Ben-Jason Dixon pictured during a training session earlier this year. Dixon could replace Pieter-Steph du Toit on the side of the scrum for the Rugby Championship match against Argentina. FILE - Springboks flank Ben-Jason Dixon pictured during a training session earlier this year. Dixon could replace Pieter-Steph du Toit on the side of the scrum for the Rugby Championship match against Argentina. Picture: Tertius Pickard / AFP
The Springboks’ indefatigable Pieter-Steph du Toit has continued to motor on like a reliable Toyota Corolla during the Springboks’ international season.
While many players have been rotated from match-to-match this year, coach Rassie Erasmus has used Du Toit as his insurance policy in most of the Springboks’ matches.
Du Toit even featured in three different positions in the Rugby Championship Test win against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, winning the man -of-the-match award for an outstanding performances at No 4 lock, No 5 lock and on the blindside flank.
Du Toit never gets substituted and seems to have the biggest engine. He just keeps going, making tackle after tackle, carrying with venom and intelligence and hitting as many rucks as he can.
Delivering when it matters most 👏![CDATA[]]>🔥#Springboks#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/gLEflEXt0u
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 12, 2024
However, the Springboks’ workhorse will finally get a break this weekend when they take on Argentina’s Los Pumas in the Rugby Championship in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
A win for the Springboks will see them lift the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019. But this one will be even sweeter as it is a full tournament after the triumph five years ago came during an abbreviated version of the tournament in a Rugby World Cup year.
The man who needs to fill the Du Toit-sized hole in the Springboks’ side is Stormers flank Ben-Jason Dixon, who has had a decent start to his Springboks career, but was taken off before halftime against the All Blacks at Ellis Park before being dropped from the matchday squad for the match at Cape Town Stadium.
After playing well against Wallabies away from home Dixon, looked a bit nervous and rushed against the All Blacks on that massive occasion in Johannesburg, making a few mistakes that cost the Springboks in the first half.
It would have been a massive eye opener of what it takes to play against the old enemy in front of such a spirited crowd, and Erasmus will be hoping that he takes those lessons into what is going to be another electrifying atmosphere in Argentina.
At his best, Dixon is quite similar to Du Toit in style of play. He has a massive work-rate, carrying, tackling and hitting the rucks. He is also a great lineout option at the back for the Boks.
Thank you Cape Town, you showed up in your numbers and the boys felt it 🧬![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 8, 2024
We appreciate all of you 🫂#Springboks#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/XihxF7TVxH
The Springboks hold an eight-point lead at the top of the standings over Argentina, and, while Dixon said a victory would be fantastic, they are aware of the effort it would take to topple the hosts, who have beaten the All Blacks and the Wallabies in the competition.
“It’s amazing and so exciting to be here,” said Dixon on the Boks arrival in Argentina over the weekend.
“A lot of people say it’s quite a hostile feeling playing in a stadium in Argentina where the fans really love their team and make it difficult for the opposition, although not in a bad way, they just won’t make it easy.
“But it’s a privilege to play against them here, and I’m hopefully I’ll get a chance to play. Just being here is great because I’ve always wanted to visit South America. We also had a quick stop over in Sao Paulo on our way here, so I’m keen to see a little of Buenos Aires and to get back to training on Monday.”
Zooming in on Saturday’s Test, Dixon said the Boks had to be on point to come away with a victory and hopefully secure the title.
“Our mindset going into the week will be to treat it like a final, and I’m sure everyone in the squad will zoom into the game that way, so that we can hopefully get the win,” said Dixon.
“They obviously like to play with the ball, so we cannot give them anything to pounce on, meaning the keys for us will be to control our possession and play well when we have the ball.”
The Springboks will begin their preparations for the clash in Buenos Aires on Monday and are set to travel to Santiago del Estero on Wednesday night. Erasmus is set to announce his match-23 for the clash on Tuesday.
@JohnGoliath82