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Naas backs Lambie for No 10 berth

Cape Town - It's time for one of the Springbok flyhalves to step up and make the No 10 jersey their own, former pivot Naas Botha has said.

The rest must then compete for the right to be second in line, the Springbok legend Botha told Netwerk24.

Botha's comments come after Pat Lambie's lukewarm performance against England. Lambie was replaced with Johan Goosen early in the second half which resulted in an improved Bok performance.

However, Botha believes Lambie should be backed at flyhalf because he is the best option at the moment.

Lambie is still finding his feet after an injury hit season. He suffered a shoulder injury in February and then missed three months with concussion after a blow to the head in the first Test against Ireland in June.

"Lambie was injured for a long time and didn't play a lot of Currie Cup rugby. The only time we really saw him in action was against the Barbarians and England.

"To me he looks uncertain, playing without confidence and he's out of form. How does any player get his confidence back? He plays until he gets it."

Botha said he would also consider Johan Goosen at flyhalf, but warned that the versatile back is not the first-choice number 10 at Racing 92.

"Daniel Carter is the first-choice flyhalf so they use Goosen at centre and fullback. That's why we don't really know where he is at his best. When he got picked for the Springboks the first time, he was brilliant at flyhalf, but then he got injured and took a long time before he played for the Boks again.

"We are in a modern era. Do you want to tell me we can't get 15 specialists together. That would be proof that there is a problem with the system," Botha said.

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