PSdT set for lengthy injury layoff but expected back for Springbok season

Last week, Toyota Verblitz director of rugby Sir Steve Hansen dropped a bit of a bombshell by revealing that the star Bok flanker is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after being forced to undergo surgery on his shoulder.

"Big Piet's not here at the moment, he hurt his shoulder in the November series so he just went under the knife last Friday. He could be out for the whole season, so it's a bit disappointing," Hansen said on Sport Nation's Beaver & Guy show.

Du Toit subsequently confirmed the news, revealing that he was grateful that everything went very well after a complex procedure, but that his rehabilitation period could last anything from four to six months.

"It would obviously be incredible to get well as quickly as possible and to get on the field," he said.

If all goes well, Du Toit should be back on the field before the end of May. That will give the 86-Test Springbok enough time to be available for the world champions' first Test against Italy on July 5.

The South African Rugby Union are yet to confirm at which venue that Test will be played.

While it's never good news to hear that a player like Du Toit has suffered a serious injury, the silver lining for Bok boss Rassie Erasmus is that Du Toit - arguably one of the top two or three greatest players in the game - is getting some proper rest ahead of the start of the next Springbok season.

The Boks will be hoping he is fit for their highly anticipated back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests against their arch rivals the All Blacks in New Zealand in September as well as away internationals against France and Ireland on their end-of-year tour to Europe.

Hansen, who coaches Toyota Verblitz alongside fellow former All Blacks boss Ian Foster, was full of praise for Du Toit recently.

"He is a wonderful, wonderful person, Pieter-Steph du Toit," the former All Blacks boss said.

"He's a gentle giant off the field and so competitive on the field. I have a lot of time for him. A good man."

In response to Hansen's compliments, Du Toit said: "Of course it's nice to receive praise and for the hard work that is put in to finally bear fruit."

Du Toit is no stranger to injury, having suffered several setbacks during his career, but they have seldom kept him down for very long. His injury record includes surgery on both his ankles, two knee operations, a fractured sternum and a rare condition named acute compartment syndrome which could have resulted in the amputation of his leg had doctors not acted quickly.

When the latter incident occurred in 2020, Du Toit was only the 43rd person in recorded medical history to suffer from that condition.

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