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Springboks explain why Mostert is starting ahead of two-try Smith

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Springboks have explained why sub lock Franco Mostert has been chosen ahead of two-try sub back-rower Kwagga Smith as next Saturday’s replacement for Pieter-Steph du Toit, the injured openside. A niggle has ruled out the first-choice No7 for the rematch versus the Wallabies in Sydney but that wasn’t enough to prise open a starting berth for Smith, who has started on just 13 occasions in his 24-game Test career.

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Smith was thrown into the second-half fray last weekend in Adelaide for Duane Vermeulen with the Springboks all at sea and his two-try effort helped to reduce the margin and see his team only beaten by 25-17.

That cameo, though, wasn’t enough to lever him into the No7 jersey in place of the absent du Toit, head coach Jacques Vermeulen preferring instead to go with Mostert as the starting openside. That is a position he occupied on four occasions last year when du Toit was also injured and Mostert also came on in Adelaide as the direct replacement for du Toit after Smith had already been introduced.

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Explained the decision to start Mostert and keep Smith on the bench, Nienaber said: “Pieter-Steph has got a niggle, that is why he is not up for selection this weekend and on the past weekend, I thought Franco Mostert had a good game at seven, giving us a nice lineout option there as well.

“For us, it was just a straight swap. Yes, Kwagga can play there and he was very good when he came on and brought a lot of energy, not just the fact that he scored two tries.

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“He brought a lot of energy into the squad, as Kwagga always does. I agree with you, he probably could have started but we think in terms of the tactics that we want to employ this weekend, Franco Mostert is a benefit for us starting and Kwagga injecting that energy that he does off the bench.”

Nienaber refused to go into finer detail regarding the injuries that have wounded the Springboks. Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and du Toit were all unavailable with knee issues and Elton Jantjies also missed out with an injured hand.

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“In terms of the injuries, we will probably have more clarity on the severity by tomorrow [Wednesday],” he claimed about a situation that contributed to eight changes being made to the starting XV.

It includes the switching of full-back Damian Willemse to fly-half in the absence of Pollard. “Damian has played for us at fly-half this year, the first Wales Test match in Pretoria. He played the second half at ten so we are quite looking forward to seeing him there again,” reassured Nienaber.

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Comments

5 Comments
J
John 796 days ago

Takes a man to admit he’s made a mistake ...

J
John 797 days ago

Seriously

f
finn 797 days ago

the bare minimum requirement for writing about rugby should surely be knowing that the players wearing 7 for south africa aren't opensides

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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