https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/south-africas-universal-soldier-typifies-the-boks-rise-to-the-summit-of-world-rugby/

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” [Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities].

The best of times and the worst of times: Franco Mostert has seen them both in a 12-year career spanning half the known rugby world – South Africa, England and Japan. As a Springbok, the man nicknamed ‘Sous’ [‘sauce’ for a surname which sounds like ‘mustard’] experienced the harrowing heartache of that cataclysmic 57-0 loss to New Zealand in North Harbour on 16^th September 2017.

As a Lion, he started in three successive Super Rugby final losses to Kiwi opponents between 2016 and 2018. Sous was at the epicentre of that winter of despair for South African rugby, the season of darkness where they had learned to be losers after decades of sunlit success in amateur times.

It needed the coming of Rassie Erasmus as director of rugby to shake off the Super Rugby spell, build a new epoch of belief, and lead the national team towards another spring of hope. To achieve transformation, he had to revolutionise the game on and off the field: establishing the principle of overseas selection policy in 2018, then shifting the axis of South Africa’s game north with the induction of the four South African ex-Super Rugby franchises to the United Rugby Championship in 2021.

By moving further afield, South African rugby paradoxically rediscovered its essence. Erasmus’ first World Cup win in 2019 was based unapologetically on 80-minute scrum power and a ferocious, unyielding rush defence. The 6-2 bench was born and the tight forwards became once more the basis for national success, at the start and the finish of the game alike.

Erasmus added 37-year-old hooker Schalk Brits to the Springbok squad for that tournament. Brits was fully retired from the game and had spent his twilight years at English champions Saracens rather than at home in the Western Cape. But there was method in Rassie’s apparent madness, and it was an integral part of the new age of wisdom.

“If you look at Bongi [Mbonambi] and how he struggled in the Currie Cup final and then, four weeks later, he comes off the bench against France, hits five lineouts and scores the winning try.

“Schalk Brits had a massive role in that.

“Bongi is not a guy who has 50 Test caps. Before a World Cup, to get a guy like him working with a guy like Schalk Brits is great.

“Schalk is not a guy just looking for a position, he is there to help [Bongi] with his throwing, his scrumming and [play in] European conditions.”

Brits himself takes up the story of Erasmus’ insistence of a return to when Springbok scrums were full of mighty men and feared worldwide.

“When Rassie took over as Springbok coach, [he] challenged us to think differently about the scrum, and he asked us to embrace it as a key part of our overall strategy.

“Rassie made us think of complete dominance, of having the mindset of relishing and getting excited for every single opportunity to scrummage.

“He designed the 6-2 split on the bench as a big part of this, and he asked us to no longer think of ourselves as 1, 2, 3 and 16, 17, 18 but as two integral units of the team… ready and waiting to make a quantitative difference to the team and the scoreboard; no hiding, no passive scrumming, just every single one a moment to dominate our opposing pack.”

We know now how spectacularly well the Springbok experiment has turned out. By cycling backwards, with a deep dive into the past of a great rugby nation, Erasmus has taken it forwards once again, to the point where his philosophies are becoming the envy of its most ancient rivals.

New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson was full of praise of Rassie’s new model army after the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour match in Turin.

“South Africa, the model they run, with all [players] available [it is the ideal]. Some play in the northern hemisphere, some in the southern hemisphere and their own country. All selectable.

“You cannot replace Test experience – that is one thing I’ve learned. They’ve got a got a great balance. They’ve got youth coming through, they’ve got great benches, they finish over top of teams and they’ve got big squads – they can have two really [high] quality XVs. Professional rugby is always evolving, you’ve always got to be a step ahead.”

The success of Rassie’s policy is easy to measure. Take a look at the following table, culled from the 2024 Rugby Championship.

The pattern was reinforced on the Springboks’ end-of year tour, with three matches against Scotland, England and Wales yielding a healthy fourth quarter points differential of +30.

Erasmus selected 51 different players overall in the course of 2024, and one of the prime keys was rotation at the three spots reserved for the big men in jerseys 4, 5 and 7. Rassie picked eight different combinations at those positions in 13 matches, switching the lineout captaincy between four different second-rows in the process. A ninth [Jean Kleyn] undoubtedly would have extended the merry-go-round of personnel even further, only to be sidelined by injury the whole time.

Three different men started at number four [Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat and Pieter-Steph du Toit], another quartet at number five [Mostert, RG Snyman, Ruan Nortjé and Du Toit] with a trio on the blind-side flank [Du Toit, Elrigh Louw and Ben-Jason Dixon]. One of the safer conclusions to be drawn from such a panoply of talent is South Africa has the best pool of big-and-tall athletes on planet rugby.

If most are super-sized, they are all also very mobile. Repeat world player of the year winner Du Toit can play all three spots more than efficiently at Test level. Even so, he came under stern challenge for the blue-riband six jersey between 2021 and 2023 from Mostert. Dixon shifts between second and back-row for the Stormers. Heck, Etzebeth’s best position in Top 14 rugby was thought to be six by his club Toulon, even though he is the best second row on the planet.

It is South Africa’s corps of wildebeests stampeding from a 6-2 bench which makes most of the difference to Springbok success, and it is an echo of some of the most resplendent and forbidding sides in their illustrious history. Who can forget second row Frik du Preez, galloping down the touchline against the 1962 British and Irish Lions like a prototype Jonah Lomu, beating backs for fun?

Du Preez’s mantle may have been taken on in a new era by the double WPOTY, but it is men such as Mostert who allow the Springboks to tick over without missing a beat. He may be laughingly known as ‘Sous’ in Afrikaans, but among the isiXhosa commentators he is simply the ‘Universal Soldier’ – indestructible, indefatigable and relentless.

The tour match against Wales was no more than a typical ‘Sous’ day at the office: first in cleanout attendances as the first or second man [24], first in tackles with 12; leading a 100% Springbok lineout on 15 throws with six takes of his own. A full-on, 80-minute performance.

Mostert is still the best lineout skipper in South Africa and he is still probably the best partner in the second-row for the monstrous Etzebeth. The pair enjoy an instinctive understanding of how their games can fit together on the field. When Etzebeth chases up for the contestable kick and a potential block-down, Mostert drops back to become the lead cleanout at the next recovery ruck on defence.

A little bit of extra effort, shuttling back and clearing the first defender away quickly creates quick ball and some space outside for kick-pass by Aphelele Fassi.

Like all good partnerships, Mostert and Etzebeth spark off each other’s movement and energy levels. When one moves, the other follows.

At the start of the play both second-rows are well away from the scene of the action, but when Mostert begins to accelerate as the first option on to a short ball after the wide phase, Etzebeth is the man tracking him in support.

In the modern world of rugby, you can have two big men split to either side of the field covering the wide-open prairie on defence. If one is momentarily subtracted from the play, the other can pick up the slack.

‘Whatever you can do, I can do better’ – in the spirit of friendly competition.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Mostert’s work ethic and innate ability to complement the attributes of others occurred in the 29^th minute, when his brother in arms was forced off the field by injury. On trotted Snyman, and Mostert ensured the Springbok second-row lost none of its momentum with the swap.

At the start Mostert is doing what all top-drawer lineout callers do – bringing the newcomer up to speed and integrating them into the lineout pattern as early as possible. There is complex motion involved before the throw, with two decoys before RG tracks to the tail to take the delivery and Mostert providing the rear support lift. At the end of the sequence, Sous is still following Snyman’s movements faithfully, awaiting the offload he knows he will come.

Anyone who wants to trail the upward graph of South African success over the past six years need look no further than the career of Mostert. Having experienced the abject ‘downs’ of that 57-0 blackout in 2017, and the despair of three consecutive final defeats, Sous trod the prophetic new road flagged by Erasmus wholeheartedly. It has already produced two winning World Cups and spawned a new generation of mobile big men worthy to step into the shoes of Du Preez. Where there was one Universal Soldier, now there is an army.

The link on Rugbypass includes a few magic clips.

Merry Xmas ouDawie

Nice article Blob…a true reflection of Franco….:)

Can you believe there is some dumb enough to mock and doubt him?!

What a bunch of Clowns….!

Powder puff is fucking useless

Nope you are useless…. So fucking boring, Yawnnnn you sound like a broken record….the same nonsense over and over again….

At least come up with something original, like actual facts, video material showing us how useless he is.

But Guess what you got fucking nothing, you loser LOL :)

Maybe then you can build your case, instead of coming of as this abstract lunatic, banging on the closet door to come out…. Idiot!!

Fuck off you ignorant prick

Your take on anything rugby is piss poor and you are thick

How about compiling another list for us, of 10 000 players that will never make the Bok squad ….at least that’s trying to be useful LMAO :)

And what exactly do you contribute on here you profoundly stupid person

Do you actually know how thick you are and fuck me you are so fucking boring

Being as thick as you are is the reason you have achieved fuck all in life

Do you have a job yet or are you still sponging off others?

.

" Do you actually know how thick you are and fuck me you are so fucking boring"

Yet again being un original, just copying what I said:)

"Being as thick as you are is the reason you have achieved fuck all in life

Do you have a job yet or are you still sponging off others? "

You know Fuck Hol about my life, but come visit me then you can see for yourself what’s going on :)

instead of spreading lies on the Forum about me!!

But that’s how you roll little man, insults and lies, from far away you coward….

You never hear me trying to insult your private life….

But hey that is what we have come to expect from you, a hollow shallow person with zero fundamentals .

Listen here you lying twat you messaged me telling me how fucked up your life was, no job bla bla bla - pathetic little twat

Are you still living with your boyfriend?

What’s a hollow, swallow person dumbfuck?

Prove it, put that so called message here on Ruckers, I have nothing to hide!!

The only one that is lying is you and yet again you got nothing:)

You went running off ages ago removing me from your contacts you pathetic little squirt

You can’t take the heat - I deleted you after you cried off

I don’t waste my time with nobodies

So it’s your word against mine - so either you are down and out and your boyfriend has kicked you out or you are picking grapes in the WC somewhere - who gives a fuck

But if you want to throw heat my way because I know powder puff is fucking useless you can either take the heat or fuck off

May I suggest that you fuck off as you are stupid, weak and insignificant

Just a suggestion

Send me your bank details and I’ll send you a tip

Yes I did remove you from my contacts as you are a negative fake person….a waste of time and space.

But the lies you spreading trying to provoke me and make me look bad is not working :)

It Just shows again what a sad pathetic liar/ loser you Really are….

It’s Very clear for everyone to see here on Ruckers and your word means fuck hol… and no one will believe you in Any case….

But like I said before, you so desperately trying to make me out as this Fuck Up, come visit me and then you see for yourself.

Take photos and get some hard prove, so you can run back here, like a little bitch and tell everyone :)….

Otherwise just like with Mostert, you have nothing and you just making up lies with no actual facts.

So the suggestion I have for you, is stop embarrassing yourself and rather keep quiet.

Take a deep breath, take a step back, and look at the absolute Drivel you Posting on here.

No one with the slightest dignity for themselves, will post this kind of shit.

After all we are grown ups and not in Kindergarten like you are carrying on:)

Why would I make up something like that huh - did you not tell me you were out of work and hopefully starting a new job and wanting to live off grid in a house built of tyres because you had fuck all

Guess I’m making this up to huh? You pathetic little man - you carry on little man you are such easy pickings

So fucking pathetic removing someone from your contacts list what a fucking loser

I did talk to you about Earth ships yes, thermal mass bricks using tyres….

I told you about Michael Reynolds the Founder of Earthships and that it’s a way of being self sustainable.

I also told you that I was in the process of buying a piece of land in the Klein Karoo with my Brother.

Guess what you absolute wanker, I have managed to do just that and paying it of:) Boom!!

And you said how cool that idea is…but just for your information I will not be going the Earth ship route anymore, as there is not enough support for that at the moment in South Africa.

But I never said I did not have work you Fucking Liar!!

I have always been working I work for myself installing Solar PV Systems, which I told you !!

Hybrid Sytems and Off Grid Systems, but conveniently you leaving this out of our conversation, just to make me look bad…pathetic.

You lying yet again and now everyone sees that:) keep quiet and save a little bit of face…

Easy pickings my ass LMAO :) Just remember, just like I told you certain things , you also told me quite a lot with your big fucking mouth!

Carry on you and you will regret it!!! :) Shut the fuck up and crawl back in your hole:)

Stop lying little man you said you had no job that times were tough that you were going to live off grid as you had no money

Try as hard as you like to deny it - i recall it all - living in a tyre kind of suites you

Good luck tekkies hope you stay on track

You also mentioned having a drinking problem and falling off a skateboard or am I wrong - maybe I’m getting you confused with some other loser

Who the fuck skates aged 50 odd - grow the fuck up

Ha Ha ha….if certain people just knew :)

Damn!

Deck the halls with boughs of folly
Fuckalalala-la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be a drollie
Fuckalalala-la-la-la-la

Good Lord, that escalated quickly ! 

And went on for a long time….14 posts after Dave with his gift for original expression told M to F off. What can one usefully say after you have said that?

& my wonderful post's 'skoon verlore' ....................... becs, that means lost, blowing in the wind.

his gift for original expression.................. lol.

"And went on for a long time….14 posts after Dave with his gift for original expression told M to F off. What can one usefully say after you have said that?"

You're taking things way too seriously and opening yourself  up for punishment...WTF? , don't step in dog sh!t...Dave is entitled to his views on players...ask yourself why it bothers you so much.

What?

Saffex,

You know that owe me money?

Remember our bet?

Well, had you not changed the terms you'd have won...cos I thought it was gonna be a 3 test series. But then in all your confidence you changed the terms...and there were more than 10 free kicks awarded from scrums during the series.

So you actually owe me a 100 quid, bud!

Now, if you go back to that thread I told you that I wanted to be paid in crypto.

So, let me know when you have created a crypto account and purchased the £100 worth of BTC, Eth, FTM or Solana, and I'll give you my wallet address.

;)

Saffolk, your posts is not only full of lies but also an embarrassing attempt to project your own insecurities onto me. Let me break it down for you:

1. “Living off-grid in a tyre ”: While I do dream of living off-grid one day, I plan to use my solar expertise to make that vision a reality. Your cheap attempt to mock this shows your ignorance, not mine.

2. “Drinking problem and falling off a skateboard”: This is a blatant lie and borders on defamation. I drink occasionally, not every day, and certainly don’t have any “problem” with it. Perhaps you’re projecting your own habits here—drink like a fish much, Saffolk?

3. “Skating at 50”: Yes, I skateboard at 50. It’s fun, it keeps me healthy, and it’s something I enjoy. If that bothers you, maybe you should spend less time worrying about my hobbies and more time finding your own.

Your desperate attempt to tear me down is laughable. Instead of spreading lies and insults, take a good look in the mirror. Your bitterness and personal attacks don’t faze me—they only highlight your own issues.

Run along now, Saffolk. I have a life to live, and you clearly have a lot of unresolved problems to deal with!!

Thanks for the translation, blob  

Noooo Plum I don’t recall more than 10 free kicks from scrums

The whole issue was that you and many others believed weaker sides would purposely infringe at scrum time to concede a free kick instead of having to scrum

I can’t begin to believe that happened more than 10 times in two tests by Ireland

Hey Mpower take a chill pill, stop taking me so seriously, I’m just winding you up

Oh sure….you do that all the time Rambo.

Lol @ Moz

Hey M, skating at 50   ... super cool dude

No Moz I’ve never skated