Springbok prop Thomas du Toit says scrum dominance is built over a season and doesn’t just happen within a single match.
The tighthead prop has been central to a Bok scrum that has become the most feared weapon in world rugby, but he insists the foundations are simple.
“It’s definitely a mentality; going into a scrum and wanting to dominate,” Du Toit told the Daily Mail. “A lot of teams have gone away from the fundamentals. For the last few years, the Springboks have just stuck to the basics. We don’t talk it right – we work it right.”
Under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus, the Bok pack has leaned into physicality, cohesion and collective buy-in rather than technical over-complication.
“It’s not a front-row thing or a tight-five thing,” Du Toit explained. “It’s a whole-team thing. There’s a real desire to go forward and everyone buys into that.”
WATCH: Rassie leads Christmas walk
Du Toit believes Erasmus’ influence goes beyond the set-piece, tapping into the emotional responsibility of representing South Africa.
“Rassie is very good at understanding how important a game is,” he said. “In South Africa you’ve got over 60 million people watching you. You’re fighting for every individual who looks up to you. You can’t break, you can’t be tired, and you can’t not give your best.”
ALSO: Bok prop can’t wait to come home
With World Rugby continuing to debate law changes around scrums, and the Boks’ win over Ireland in Dublin leading to a review of yellow-card sanctions for infringements at the set-piece, Du Toit is clear on where he stands.
MORE: No more cards for weak scrums?
‘When a scrum is dominant it should be rewarded,’ he said. ‘Everyone uses the phrase, “putting lead into someone’s legs”.
“I would say most scrums, when you’ve got the dominance, you want the damn wall to break. You have to keep knocking at it.
NIGEL: Depowering scrum will destroy rugby
“You have to earn the grace and the dominance and the 50-50 calls. That doesn’t happen within a game, it doesn’t happen over a couple of games, it happens over the course of a whole season. Showing the right pictures and trying to be as clean as possible.”
‘The yellow card thing is interesting,” he added. “It’s not for me to say whether it’s right or wrong but when a team is dominant, it should be rewarded.’
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post ‘Dominant scrum should be rewarded’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.