EXCLUSIVE: 'The Springboks have only reached 50 per cent of where we need to be' - Faf de Klerk
Faf de Klerk started this year exiled from test rugby, but will head into 2019 as one of South Africa’s most important weapons as they bid for Rugby World Cup glory in Japan.
After being recalled from the international wilderness in June, the blond haired dynamo won six of his 10 tests, including a famous victory over New Zealand in Wellington and was included in the five-man shortlist for World Rugby Player of the Year.
After his incredible year, will de Klerk’s New Year wish be a Springbok World Cup win and European Champions Cup qualification for Sale? “Yes, hopefully, I can get both of those things – that would be a great way to follow this year,” said de Klerk, who has a warning for the rest of the World Cup nations: ”The Springboks have only reached 50 per cent of where we need to be. There is immense talent in the squad and we want to be ready for the World Cup.”
The 27-year-old had played 11 tests for the Springboks in 2016 and enjoyed just three wins, leaving him understandably frustrated when head coach Allister Coetzee dumped him and triggered the move to Sale in the English Premiership in 2017. As he did not satisfy the 30 cap rule to be allowed to return to play for the Springboks, there seemed little chance of de Klerk being able to mount a bid for a World Cup place.
Instead of wearing his national colours, de Klerk pulled on the Sale No.9 shirt and was told by Steve Diamond, the club’s director of rugby, to go out and make a name for himself by bossing the rest of the team around the pitch. This brought the best out of de Klerk and when Coetzee was axed and Rassie Erasmus took over the Springbok role, the scrum half’s world suddenly shifted on its axis.
Recalled for a test series triumph over England, de Klerk proceeded to deliver the kind of performances that gave the Springboks much needed impetus and a victory over the All Blacks that was just reward for all of his efforts. “I definitely did not think this year would end up like this,” said de Klerk. “I never dreamt it would be such a magical year and now the aim is to recreate a bit of it next year. I knew I wasn’t eligible for the Springboks when I came over but thankfully they changed that rule. Always in my thoughts was the belief that if I played well for my club there might be a chance they would have another look at me and thankfully it has worked out. Now, hopefully, I will get that opportunity to go to the World Cup.
“It is all about challenging yourself and that is what I did by coming to a new country and joining Sale. It has all been really exciting and if you get comfortable in one place you don’t grow and I believe I have grown as a player. Sale gave me a lot of responsibility and I want to pay tribute to them for allowing me to enjoy every single minute at the club.”
Sale have played a key role on and off the pitch in reviving de Klerk’s test career with Diamond agreeing to release his prized possession for this year’s Rugby Championship rather that ring fencing the player. At test and club level de Klerk is now recognised as a threat that must be nullified and he is rising to the challenge of being just as influential, despite the attention of limpet like opponents. He explained: “I am feeling the pressure quite a lot since coming back to the Premiership. Against Saracens, guys were trying to keep me on the floor and it is something I have to think about and try to find ways around it by being more patient. One thing you need to do in the Premiership is to adapt.
“My attitude is that if guys are focused on me then it will open up holes for team mates.”
De Klerk’s immediate priority is to ensure Sale remain top of their European Challenge Cup pool by beating Bordeaux at home on Saturday and then move up from their current 11th position in the Premiership to earn a Champions Cup place next season. He added: “The Premiership is really competitive and this season it is absolutely crazy. I am banking on us getting some wins to then pull away to create a bit of a gap from the bottom of the league. We are getting key players back from injury and test duty and are becoming stronger every week. We have real threats in our backline.”
Living in football mad Manchester has allowed de Klerk to enjoy a level of anonymity that is impossible in South Africa and while he is enjoying a quieter time, the local weather has been an issue. After being warned Manchester can be very wet and cold, de Klerk was lulled into a false sense of security. “For the first few months the weather wasn’t bad and then the Beast from the East arrived. That was horrendous and so when Robert du Preez said to me the other day the weather isn’t too bad I told him watch out!”.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
9 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.
35 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.
2 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
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
35 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.
35 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.
35 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.
35 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 commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments