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Du Preez places his Springboks hopes on 'doing a Faf' at Sale
Robert du Preez is hoping to follow Faf de Klerk’s lead and revive his own international career after the livewire scrum-half helped South Africa lift the World Cup by defeating England in the final in Japan.
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De Klerk and his now-famous South African flag budgie smugglers are on their way back to Sale Sharks after the Springboks trophy tour of their country.
The No9 has become a rugby icon in South Africa having forced his way back into the Springboks side after enduring a Test exile before his form with Sale and a review of regulations governing overseas-based players led to Rassie Erasmus recalling him.
Erasmus has embraced the idea of Springbok players taking up contracts outside South Africa and with another World Cup winner Lood de Jager soon to join de Klerk at Sale when he has recovered from his shoulder operation, there will be plenty of attention on the Premiership outfit where all three du Preez brothers are now based.
That focus could help catapult du Robert du Preez, whose only cap to date came against Wales in 2018, and his twin brothers Dan and Jean-Luc, also capped by South Africa, back into the selection mix.
(Continue reading below…)
Du Preez will make his Heineken Champions Cup debut for Sale when the travel to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday and it is this kind of quality match that will provide all three brothers with a high profile stage.
He said: “Rassie has made it clear that he will pick players on form and players like Cheslin Kolbe, who wasn’t previously in the mix, had an outstanding couple of seasons with Toulouse and was one of best players for the Boks.
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“I can’t speak for my brothers but if it turns out we play good enough rugby to get back into the Bok mix then that would be amazing. I haven’t ruled any of that out, but first I have to do my best here at Sale. If it goes well then hopefully other things will happen.
A lot of work goes into @fafdeklerk 's golden locks…@Jono__Ross serves up his scrumhalf teammate and talks salary cap, crime in his native SA and living in 'small' Manchester
– as told to @heagneyl 👨💼https://t.co/4NTCIzl4wX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 10, 2019
“It will be great to have Faf back. He brings real energy and will be arriving with a very nice Speedo tan! It will be exciting to have all the guys back, including Tom Curry and Mark Wilson and then Lood when his shoulder has recovered. Faf loves the club and the culture and he will come back with some real confidence from the Boks.”
Du Preez made a positive impact during his three-month short-term deal with Sale last season and admitted a dip in form when he returned to the Durban-based Sharks led to plenty of discussion among local fans about his place in the team which, at the time, was coached by his father, also Rob.
Coaches having their own sons under their command is not unusual. You had Andy and Owen Farrell at one stage with Saracens, as well as Dai and Thomas Young currently at Wasps, but the Sharks squad took this to another level with all three du Preez boys coached by father Rob.
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He left the head coach role in July and all three sons signed deals committing their immediate playing future to Sale. Both Jean-Luc and Daniel had originally signed short-term loan contracts for part of the 2019/20 Premiership but joined Rob full-time in deciding to stay in England
One player who unfortunately will not be able to help the Sale cause for six months is Josh Beaumont. Injured in last Friday’s win over Wasps, he has since undergone knee surgery.
WATCH: The one line in the salary cap rules that is likely to become a legal battleground for Saracens
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
6 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
6 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
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