Lions lock Mostert is hungry for Springbok glory

21 April 2016 - 02:26 By Sbu Mjikeliso

Last year Lions lock Franco Mostert caught a whiff of what it feels like to be a Springbok when he was called up to the Rugby Championship squad. But this time he is hungry for the full course. The industrious second-rower didn't earn his debut cap despite an injury to Victor Matfield early in Brisbane that kept the veteran out for a couple of games.But Mostert dusted himself off after that disappointment and has formed the backbone of a Lions team hell-bent on making the Super Rugby play-offs for the first time.He has faced some fearsome competitors at the lineout, such as Boks Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lood de Jager, plus All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick. For the most part he's come out on top."I feel very good about my performances this season and I think I've had a few good seasons behind me," said Mostert."The big thing is to just be grateful and to enjoy every minute. If you do that everything will fall into place."It's every guy's dream to play for the Springboks and just to be in that group of national team players. It's recognition for the hard work you've put in and an affirmation that you've been playing well."The former Blue Bulls and University of Pretoria (Tuks) lock was particularly satisfied with the Lions' 29-22 win over the Stormers at Ellis Park on Saturday - even though the visitors were without the injured Bok enforcer Eben Etzebeth.Mostert will be going up against another emerging lock, who could be on Bok coach Allister Coetzee's radar, John-Charles Astle, when the Lions face the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.Astle, in concert with the experienced Steven Sykes, has kept the Kings lineout functioning smoothly. They have even had the cheek to disrupt a lot of their opponents' throw-ins.Mostert said: "JC Astle is a good player. He played for the Shimlas in the Varsity Cup [in 2012 and 2013] and was a strong contender for the player-of-the-year award."I'm looking forward to going up against him and I know I have to bring my best to compete against him."..

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