Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Lions replace Mostert with 6 foot 7 inch Springbok

Franco Mostert on the charge against Leicester. (Getty Images)

The Lions, losing finalists for the past three years, have started the process of replacing the rash of departed Springboks.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Johannesburg-based franchise have lost several Springboks – such as Ruan Dreyer (to Gloucester), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks), Jaco Kriel (Gloucester) and Franco Mostert (Gloucester) – as well as other established players like Marco Jansen van Vuuren (to SA Sevens squad) and Jacques van Rooyen (Bath)

The loss of star lock Mostert was the biggest blow.

However, the Lions revealed that he has been replaced by another Springbok second row forward – former Sharks lock Stephan Lewies.

The one-time Bok, who will turn 27 later this month, has was a regular starter for the Sharks since 2012.

However, he has been struggling with injuries in recent years.

His only Test was against Scotland in Port Elizabeth in 2014, when he came off the bench to replace captain Victor Matfield in South Africa’s 55-6 win.

In 2016 Lewies also featured for South Africa ‘A’ against the touring England Saxons team. The Lions open their 2019 campaign against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday, February 16.

ADVERTISEMENT

They will play two pre-season matches – against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on January 26 and against the Sharks in Cape Town on February 3.

Gloucester Rugby confirmd the signing of South African international lock Franco Mostert from the Lions in May, a move which was initially disputed.

Springbok second row Mostert arrived in the form of his life after playing a key part in the Lions’ march to the 2017 Super Rugby final, and was eveb named in the South African squad for the summer test series with England.

In the current Super Rugby campaign, Mostert had been an ever-present for the Johannesburg based outfit, displaying his leadership skills in captaining the side, and his versatility operating at both flanker and in the more familiar second row.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 19 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline? Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?
Search