Experience will get Boks out of tight spot, says Mostert
14 September 2021 - 17:56
byNick Said
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Franco Mostert of the Springboks takes a lineout ball during the Rugby Championship match between the South Africa Springboks and the Australian Wallabies at Cbus Super Stadium on September 12 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia.Picture: GETTY IMAGES/MATT ROBERTS
Lock Franco Mostert says SA are in familiar territory with their backs to the wall after the Rugby Championship loss to Australia on Sunday, but recent experience has shown them the way out of their predicament.
The 28-26 defeat means the Springboks will probably have to win their three remaining games in the competition to retain the title they won in 2019.
It is not dissimilar to when they lost the opening game of the Rugby World Cup in Japan to New Zealand and were left needing victories in their next six fixtures to lift the trophy. They also lost the first Test to the British & Irish Lions in July, after which they had to win the next two to claim the series.
They managed to pull it off on both occasions, and Mostert said they can use that experience against Australia on Saturday, and for their last two games against the All Blacks.
“We know where we are, we have been in this situation before and we know where to go from here,” Mostert said on Tuesday. “The boys are confident and positive, and that is a good sign.”
Bok coach Jacques Nienaber bemoaned his side’s lack of discipline for their weekend loss, and Mostert agreed it was an area of concern.
“We can definitely improve our discipline, it let us down. But we have done our reviews, tomorrow is a new day and we will look to improve on our set pieces,” he said. “If you give away stupid penalties, teams will capitalise on that. It builds up.
“Credit to Australia, they were hungrier than us, but we will work hard during the week and hopefully we can come back stronger. Rugby is a funny game — you can be at your best and still lose. It is just about the bounce of the ball.”
The Boks have confirmed that reserve lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg will return to SA for personal reasons and will not be replaced in the squad.
Mostert, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth and Marvin Orie are the remaining specialist locks, while loose-forwards Rynhardt Elstadt and Jean-Luc du Preez can also provide cover in the position.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Experience will get Boks out of tight spot, says Mostert
Lock Franco Mostert says SA are in familiar territory with their backs to the wall after the Rugby Championship loss to Australia on Sunday, but recent experience has shown them the way out of their predicament.
The 28-26 defeat means the Springboks will probably have to win their three remaining games in the competition to retain the title they won in 2019.
It is not dissimilar to when they lost the opening game of the Rugby World Cup in Japan to New Zealand and were left needing victories in their next six fixtures to lift the trophy. They also lost the first Test to the British & Irish Lions in July, after which they had to win the next two to claim the series.
They managed to pull it off on both occasions, and Mostert said they can use that experience against Australia on Saturday, and for their last two games against the All Blacks.
“We know where we are, we have been in this situation before and we know where to go from here,” Mostert said on Tuesday. “The boys are confident and positive, and that is a good sign.”
Bok coach Jacques Nienaber bemoaned his side’s lack of discipline for their weekend loss, and Mostert agreed it was an area of concern.
“We can definitely improve our discipline, it let us down. But we have done our reviews, tomorrow is a new day and we will look to improve on our set pieces,” he said. “If you give away stupid penalties, teams will capitalise on that. It builds up.
“Credit to Australia, they were hungrier than us, but we will work hard during the week and hopefully we can come back stronger. Rugby is a funny game — you can be at your best and still lose. It is just about the bounce of the ball.”
The Boks have confirmed that reserve lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg will return to SA for personal reasons and will not be replaced in the squad.
Mostert, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth and Marvin Orie are the remaining specialist locks, while loose-forwards Rynhardt Elstadt and Jean-Luc du Preez can also provide cover in the position.
Reuters
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