Franco made for Test rugby

Lock Franco Mostert showed last weekend he is at home at Test level, believes fellow Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth.

The 25-year-old Etzebeth played in his 55th Test and Mostert a year older at 26 in only his eighth, but Etzebeth believes Mostert took his chance in his first start in the 37-14 win over France at Loftus Versfeld.

The win has moved the Boks yesterday into fifth spot in the world rankings.

“It was really nice to play and team up with Franco, it’s the first time we started together. He brought it all last weekend,” said Etzebeth.

“Like we saw in Super Rugby he is a great player and now he has proven it at Test level as well, so it was great to partner him.”

Etzebeth said with the other two locks in the squad in Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lood de Jager there is great competition but also cameraderie.

“Between the locks there is unbelievable competition, Franco, Pieter-Steph and Lood they are all world-class players,” he said.

“We always knew it was going to be a physical battle up front, I must say the guys really stepped up and I think our forwards were great on the day.”

Etzebeth said it was an awesome show. The support play was massive and a plan they put into place during last week paid off which they were thankful about.

“We had to put 2016 behind us and look to the future. The whole goal this year was to take it game by game. We are one from one but this week in Durban we start all over again.”

Man-of-the-Match, hooker Malcolm Marx, admitted that he was nervous “exactly like everyone else was”.

“But it wasn’t just my effort, but a team effort. During the week we spoke about playing as a team, becoming a brotherhood and I think that’s what happened.

“It was very physical and the French are always a physical side but I think we fronted up well on the night.”