Playing Test would put spring in Lambie's step

05 August 2015 - 02:04 By Khanyiso Tshwaku

If Patrick Lambie starts for the Springboks against Argentina on Saturday at Kings Park, it should not come as a surprise how broad his grin will be. Of the 42 Tests he has played in, only two have been in Durban, and in one of those he had to watch Morné Steyn boot the Boks to victory against England three years ago.There was a lot riding on that three-match series, but the end game is now the World Cup, rather than the Rugby Championship that will be decided in Sydney.Lambie is raring to go; even playing at fullback will do for him, despite carving a niche as one of the best pivots in the country and despite being shunted from pillar to post at international level."I would be very happy to play in either position as I have played them before," said Lambie, who hasn't had much action since injuring his neck in a Super rugby match at Easter."There are a few adjustments that need to be made but the coaches will help with that."The positional plays and the new roles are slightly different on attack and defence. I'll feel quite comfortable in making the adjustments," he said.It's not often the Boks can boast having four Test-class flyhalfs, but that is the predicament Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer finds himself in.At the start of the season Steyn would have been seen as the outcast after Lambie and Handre Pollard showed they were the Ferraris to the reliable Toyota that is Steyn.Despite the attacking limitations that have dogged Steyn for the best part of his career, he is a proven match-winner."Morné's the ultimate team man and he brings a smile to everyone's faces," Lambie said. "When he walks into the room everyone's mood lifts, but he has been around for a long time and he's had some outstanding performances in the No10 jersey."With him around, it means the competition for the jersey gets tougher, but [that is] also healthy for the Springboks. I hope the four of us can bring out the best in each other," Lambie said...

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