Boks put aside World Cup hopes

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There’s less than a week to go until the World Cup squad is named, but Franco Mostert says the Springboks are staying united in their mission to sink a fired-up Argentina on Saturday.

The Springboks will take on Los Pumas in the final game before Jacques Nienaber names the 33-man squad that will travel to France to defend the World Cup title.

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There is plenty at stake, especially for those fringe players who did not see too much game time during the Rugby Championship and will be hoping to catch the eye in a final World Cup audition.

However, experienced forward Mostert warned his teammates of becoming too individualistic in their focus as the Boks target a seventh straight win over the hosts.

“For us, personally, you have to play a good game, it’s the last chance that you will have to prove that you want to be in the squad for the World Cup,” said Mostert, who will start at blindside flank on Saturday.

“But we aren’t just going out to prove ourselves. We still have a gameplan. The biggest thing is that we want to win together. You won’t be able to look good in Argentina all by yourself. If you do that you definitely won’t come out as the winner.

“Our plan is to play together as a team and execute the things that we want to do.”

With the Boks playing at the 50,000-seater José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires, Mostert is expecting a hostile reception as the home fans get behind the Pumas, who will be celebrating veteran hooker Agustin Creevy’s 100th Test match.

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“I’ve played a lot in Argentina and I have to say, it’s a whole other ball game. When they are playing at home, it’s very emotional for them, especially for their hooker, who will be playing his 100th Test, it will be even more so.

“Those first 20 or 30 minutes are going to be unbelievably tough when they come at us. Argentina will come out guns blazing. But I think the young men that we have here know what to expect and we are preparing them. We have the right guys here to take them on.”

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

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