After 16 Tests against South Africa spanning two World Cup-winning generations, Sam Cane's pick for the standout Springbok he faced is Pieter-Steph du Toit — ahead of Vermeulen, Kolisi, Schalk Burger, and the rest. Speaking on The Aftermatch, Cane drew a direct line between Du Toit and Burger: same imposing physicality, same relentless engine, never a backward step. The comparison to Brodie Retallick — a lock-sized athlete playing as a loose forward — gets to the heart of why Du Toit is so difficult to handle. Cane's broader reflections on the rivalry are warm: intense on the field, genuinely collegial off it, with the Springbok changeroom apparently one of the more welcoming post-match stops on the international circuit.
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Sam Cane names Pieter-Steph du Toit as the Springbok who stood above all others
Sam Cane, having faced two Springbok World Cup-winning generations across 16 Tests, singles out Pieter-Steph du Toit as the standout opponent — comparing his relentless physicality to Schalk Burger and his athletic profile to Brodie Retallick.
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