Lions coach Swys de Bruin praised Franco Mostert for his performance in their 49-35 win against the Bulls in Pretoria.

Much of the pre-game talk revolved around Mostert’s switch from lock to flank, with De Bruin saying before the game he had discussed the move with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

COLUMN: Mostert management a win for alignment

However, Mostert turned in a typically workman-like performance, helping the Lions dominate the Bulls at the set piece.

‘I must say, I was nervous, but knowing Franco and the way he plays, he is quick and can run all over,’ De Bruin said after the match. ‘He was absolutely unreal.

‘It worked well, even when we moved him back to lock at the end. He can play No 7 or lock anytime now. I think the ice is broken.

‘Maybe he has a future there. At least we can see that the plan did work, it was awesome.’

De Bruin admitted that they targeted the Bulls at the lineout and maul, something which laid the platform for five of the Lions’ seven tries.

‘Hats off to [forwards coach] Philip Lemmer as well as Franco and the tight five, with Warren’s [Whiteley] leadership out there. That was right to the plan. They did well. We did target them up front. I can’t lie.

‘We are very grateful, we want to score tries and inspire people with the way that we play and with those seven tries, we got close to that.

‘It is a pity about the ones we let in at the end there, but that’s the game.’

Photo: Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix