Springbok lock Franco Mostert says he doesn’t expect the Afrikaans-speaking Scotland players to give the team a big difference at the lineout during Saturday’s Test at Murrayfield.
Scotland, coming off a morale-boosting victory over Australia, are likely to field a match-day squad that again includes several players whose careers began in South Africa.
Loosehead props Pierre Schoeman and Oli Kebble, British & Irish Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe, utility back Kyle Steyn – the four-try hero in the win over Tonga – and Sharks flank Dylan Richardson are all part of the larger Scotland squad.
Schoeman and Van der Merwe both started against Australia, while Kebble and Steyn were on the bench.
Mostert is looking forward to facing his former countrymen and he doesn’t think their ability to translate the Boks’ Afrikaans lineout calls will make a big difference in the Test.
“The thing is just that you know he understands Afrikaans. But personally, I don’t think it makes a massive difference,” Mostert said.
“I do not think it makes a difference. All of them are good players and have made a name for themselves in South Africa, which is why they made the move overseas.
“They are going to want to play a good game this weekend. Hopefully, they will be chosen and then we can just have a good time. ”
According to Bok forwards coach Deon Davids, a bigger threat to the world champions will come in the form of Scotland’s scrum coach Pieter de Villiers.
De Villiers coached the Springbok scrum under Heyneke Meyer and was so highly rated that Rassie Erasmus was keen to make him part of the coaching staff in 2018, but a deal could not be agreed to.
Scotland’s set piece has improved under De Villiers and bullied the Wallabies this past Sunday.
“Pieter de Villiers is a very good scrum coach. I was lucky enough to do some Junior World Cup tournaments with him. He has insight into the attitude of South African forwards and what we want to achieve up front,” Davids said.
“What he achieved at the time as the Bok scrum coach and also now at Scotland, speaks volumes.
“On Saturday, we will face a pack of forwards with good systems that will be very competitive.”
