England prospect could be 'as good, if not better, than Faf'
Young star Raffi Quirke has been backed to be ‘every bit as good, if not better’ than outstanding Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk by his Sale boss.
Quirke played a key role in Sale’s Gallagher Premiership 28-22 victory over Harlequins, scoring two tries and continually testing the visiting defence with sniping runs around the fringes.
Following successive losses to Exeter and Gloucester, the Sharks responded superbly, helped by man of the match Quirke.
With De Klerk playing for South Africa in the recent Rugby Championship, the 20-year-old has been handed an opportunity to impress from the start, and he took his chance against previously-unbeaten Quins.
Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “He’s a star in the making, isn’t he?
“A lot of it is about not overplaying him, because he’s brave. He’ll carry into forwards and at some point he’s just going to get hurt, just by the weight and the number of collisions. It’s up to me to look after him.
“If we look after him, and this goes for England as well, he’s got a very long, bright future ahead of him.”
Quirke’s energetic displays have unsurprisingly drawn comparisons with De Klerk, with him being nicknamed ‘Faf de Quirke’ by Sale team-mates, but Sanderson thinks he could be even better than the World Cup winner.
“I think he deserves his own nickname. I think he’s his own man and he has every chance of being every bit as good, if not better, than Faf,” Sale’s boss added. “Faf’s got better hair but that’s about it!”
England boss Eddie Jones was at the match and, asked whether the scrum-half should be in England’s squad for the Autumn Nations Series, Sanderson responded: “I just can’t see why he wouldn’t.
“I want that for him, I want him to play at the highest level and come back (from England) better with better coaching.
“Excellence breeds excellence in terms of who he plays with and trains with, so I want him to go and come back with a boom. Even though we’re short of scrum-halves at the moment, we’ll find a way.”
Thanks in part to Quirke, the Sharks moved into fourth position – for the time being at least – but are still three points behind Harlequins having played a game more.
Quins garnered a losing bonus point and boss Tabai Matson was content with the outcome having seen his side struggle with their discipline.
“We talked about matching their physicality all week and I thought we did a good job,” Matson said.
“We certainly fronted up and, if it wasn’t for some of those defensive sets, the score could have been worse.
“When you go away from home and the penalty count is 21-9, you’re always going to battle to get a bonus point.
“We lacked composure because they put us under pressure when we exited and then they did a good job at the set-piece, which kept the penalty count ticking over.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments