Cape Town - Former Springbok lock Hennie Bekker says Stormers duo Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth should be South Africa’s starting lock combination for the upcoming three-Test series against Ireland.
Bekker, who is the father of former Springbok lock Andries, told Netwerk24 that the Cheetahs’ Lood de Jager would be his understudy.
“Pieter-Steph and Eben are playing well together and they have to start for the Boks. I would pick Lood on the bench, because he is versatile. His form is not as good as last year, although it is starting to improve,” said Bekker.
Bekker also had plaudits for the Bulls’ RG Snyman.
“He played really well against the Stormers at the weekend. The Lions’ Franco Mostert also impresses me.”
Bekker’s comments come after former Bok lock Mark Andrews earlier this month said he would pick Du Toit and De Jager as his two starting locks for the national team.
According to Andrews, Etzebeth should rather be used from the bench.
“My ideal lock pair for the Boks is Pieter-Steph at No 4 and Lood de Jager at No 5. I would use Eben as impact player off the bench,” Andrews told Die Son.