Steyn knows exactly what to do‚ says Mbonambi

Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi is the latest player to give veteran Frans Steyn the thumbs-up to do the job at No 10 in the must-win Rugby Championship clash against Argentina at Kings Park on Saturday.

The unavailability of regular flyhalves Handrè Pollard‚ Elton Jantjies and Damian Willemse‚ who performed the kicking duties in recent matches‚ forced coach Jacques Nienaber to turn to the 35-year-old. Steyn plays at No 10 for the Boks for the first time in 14 years and for the second time in his career in the crucial encounter in Durban.

The last time Steyn started at flyhalf against Italy at Newlands, in 2008‚ the Bok team had players such as Bakkies Botha‚ Victor Matfield‚ Gcobani Bobo‚ Ricky January‚ Odwa Ndungane‚ CJ van der Linde‚ Luke Watson‚ Ryan Kankowski‚ Conrad Jantjes and Brian Mujati in its ranks. Captain Siya Kolisi and recent Test centurion Eben Etzebeth were still in high school.

“With someone like Frans Steyn, you can’t really say he needs help that much‚” Mbonambi said of the evergreen who finished last week’s match against Los Pumas in Buenos Aires at No 10 after Willemse left the field with concussion.

“He has been around … longer than any of us. He knows exactly what’s needed of him. As the forwards, we know what is needed of us to make the job of the whole team easier. We all have a specific role to play. If we can get that right‚ everyone will produce a good performance.”

Mbonambi said Argentina’s strong pack was the obvious danger. “We saw last week that the Argentinean scrum is very good. They do have a good front row and a good pack. Having an experienced player like Agustín Creevy back is good for them.

“He knows exactly what to do in the scrums. He knows most of the tricks that happen in there‚ so it is going to be a huge challenge in the front row for both teams.”

This is Mbonambi’s first match since a knee injury before the second Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg in August. “I must say it is good to be back,” he said. “I am very fortunate to be back in the Springboks circle to join my teammates. Every opportunity we get is to make sure we really prepare well and make sure when the game comes, we are ready.”