Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan and Springboks lock Franco Mostert competes for the ball in the air during the first Test at Loftus Versfeld. Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan and Springboks lock Franco Mostert competes for the ball in the air during the first Test at Loftus Versfeld. Mostert dominated the lineouts against the Irish. Picture: Marco Longari / AFP
The Springboks’ lineout was running well against Ireland, and a platform the South Africans used to showcase their new attacking intent in the first Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Lock Franco Mostert is the man who runs those lineouts with an iron fist, and the variations they came up with really nullified the Ireland’s top ability to contest and steal ball.
Mostert was a towering figure in the lineout, with plenty of tidy balls off the top for scrumhalf Faf de Klerk to get the Springboks’ backs going.
“We had a good plan, especially in the first half. When RG [Snyman] and the boys came on, we had a different plan and I think it worked well,” said Mostert.
“We know they are one of the best teams in the world when it comes to contesting the lineout. So you need good plans against them, with everybody on the same page and knowing their roles.”
However, the Springboks didn’t get a lot of joy when it came to their mauling, with the Irish defending this really well.
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The maul is normally a great source of momentum and indeed penalties for the Springboks, where they can either score field position or build scoreboard pressure with kicks at goal.
Mostert, though, hinted that they may try a few variations in the second Test at Durban’s Kings Park on Saturday to spice things up.
“They did a good job last weekend stopping the mauls. They are a side that don’t conceded penalties at maul time and for us it’s all about doing it better,” Mostert said.
“They know us well, so there must be different plans. Hopefully this weekend we can catch them out with a few surprises.”
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