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By Keagan Mitchell 
9h ago
Cape Town – Growing up in the wild played an important role in Pieter-Steph du Toit’s life on the Springbok flank.
Du Toit, who is the oldest of four siblings, said he was lucky enough to grow up on a farm in Riebeek Kasteel together with his father and mother.
“Nature was a big part of our lives and my life. Harvest time was always the highlight for me. When I came from school in the afternoons, I went straight to the field. He drove the tractor, helped load the boxes, and carried them to the shed. It was amazing working with the people on the farm and earning respect for what they do. As the saying goes, “you have to start at the bottom, if you want to get to the top.” Nature and being outdoors is my life, ”he said.
Rugby is in the Stormers ace’s blood. His grandfather was also a Springbok.
“My grandfather was a Springbok and it was always my dream to represent South Africa. I enjoyed playing rugby at school, I never stood out or excelled. Only after completing my school career did I start to make a name for myself, eventually I went to the Sharks and then the Stormers, ”said Du Toit.
He was part of the Springbok team that won the Rugby World Cup in Japan last year.
“We were all very insecure when we headed to Japan, especially when it comes to culture, food and languages. But the nice and friendly nature of the people and guides we had there helped us a lot. That feeling of winning the World Cup is incredible and it is something that all the young people in South Africa want to do, ”he said.
After winning the Rugby World Cup, he was named 2019 Men’s Rugby World Player of the Year.
“I still don’t know how they managed to identify an individual player from a whole team. To say that one person contributed in such a significant way is amazing. I can only thank my team members for getting me to where I am today. I can’t tell you how lucky I am to get the title, ”he said.
Although sidelined by injury, Du Toit said his love of the game and competitive nature keep him motivated.
“I try and always give my best to the team and automatically if the team does it well I do it well,” he added.
Argus weekend
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