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Franco Mostert, a veteran lock for the Springboks, limped off the field during his team's 80-31 demolition of the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday. Mostert's injury has left Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks' coach, genuinely concerned about his ankle. The timing of the injury is particularly inconvenient for the Springboks as they face England in their opening Nations Championship Test in just two weeks.

The Springboks' coach, Rassie Erasmus, fears the worst for Mostert after he limped off the field during the second half. Erasmus said, “I'm worried about his ankle, he's going for scans tomorrow and hopefully it's not too bad.” He noted Mostert's toughness as a worrying sign in itself: “Sous doesn't normally come off the field if it's not serious,” Erasmus added.

The injury comes at a particularly inconvenient moment for the Springboks, a team set to face England in their opening Nations Championship Test in just two weeks. Losing an experienced lock so close to that blockbuster fixture would be a considerable blow. Mostert's absence was one of the few negatives from an otherwise dominant afternoon, where the Boks ran in 12 tries, including an Edwill van der Merwe hat-trick.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the extent of Mostert's knock, Erasmus remained confident in the quality of the Springboks' options at lock. “Within our group, Lood is there, Eben is ready to play,” he said. “Ruan Nortje played for the Bulls last night, Cobus Wiese is still there. When you see a lot of injuries, you don't always look at the back-up that comes through because they're not settled.”

Riley Norton, who is scheduled to lead the Junior Boks at the U20 World Championship later this month, impressed during the match against experienced opposition. “A guy like Riley, who's 20 years old, playing a full match against grown men, that's not easy,” Erasmus said.

Erasmus remained measured about South Africa's overall position compared to other nations. “I think we're okay [at lock], we're in a better position than other countries so I can't moan,” he said. The attention is still focused on Mostert's scan results, with the Springboks hoping the veteran will be fit and ready to face England or at least avoids a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Erasmus has always emphasized the importance of experience in his team's setup. Mostert, who has been a key figure in the Springboks' success, was instrumental in their World Cup victory in 2019. His leadership and experience will be missed if he is ruled out for an extended period.

The Springboks will be anxiously awaiting the results of Mostert's scans, hoping that the injury is not as severe as feared. Losing a player of Mostert's caliber will be a significant blow to the team, but Erasmus is confident that they have the depth to cope with the loss.

The Boks' victory over the Barbarians marked a promising start to their preparation for the Nations Championship. With Mostert's injury casting a shadow over their preparations, Erasmus will be hoping that his player will be back on the field soon.

Lood de Jager is ready to play and fill in for Mostert if needed, according to Erasmus. De Jager has been a consistent performer for the Springboks and will be a key player in their upcoming matches.

The Springboks will focus on preparing for England despite the uncertainty surrounding Mostert's injury. Erasmus will be working tirelessly to ensure that his team is ready for the challenge ahead.

Erasmus has always emphasized the importance of teamwork and camaraderie in his team's setup. The Springboks will be relying on each other to get through this difficult period.

Eben Etzebeth is another option for the Springboks, who will be looking to fill the void left by Mostert's potential absence. Etzebeth has been a loyal servant to the Springboks and will be a key player in their upcoming matches.

The Boks' victory over the Barbarians was a significant moment in their preparation for the Nations Championship. With Mostert's injury casting a shadow over their preparations, Erasmus will be hoping that his player will be back on the field soon.