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
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe 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.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments