1
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk flies home to South Africa tomorrow to start preparing for the Springboks assault on the World Cup in Japan not knowing if he has helped Sale Sharks qualify for next season’s Heineken Cup competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
De Klerk’s brilliant attacking play conjured up two outstanding late tries to help Sale defeat Gloucester 46-41, however, Bath’s 32-31 win at Leicester consigned the Sharks to a seventh place finish and they now have to rely on La Rochelle beating Bordeaux in the Top14 to finish in the top six.
That would trigger an extra Cup qualifying position for the Gallagher Premiership thanks to Saracens’ Heineken Cup triumph and it would go to Sale.
The live wire No9 is on the six man short list to be named Gallagher Player of the Season in the Premiership which makes de Klerk’s assertion that he is not guaranteed a place in the Springbok World Cup squad difficult to comprehend. However, De Klerk takes nothing for granted and is prepared to put in the hard yards when invited to take part in the pre-Cup Springbok training camps because that is the way he attacks every rugby challenge.
It is why he refused to accept that Gloucester had established a winning 41-31 lead at the AJ Bell Stadium and highlights the massive impact achieved since joining Sale.
Last year de Klerk kick-started is stalled test career with such success he was vying for the World Player of Year and he is certain to be a key figure as the Springboks chase a third World Cup in Japan.
De Klerk , who will be joined by another six South African players at Sale next season including lock Lood de Jager, said: “I am flying back to South Africa on Monday and I will hopefully have a few weeks off.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I am really excited but the Springbok World Cup squad has still to be announced. If I get the call up I will take it.
“It is has been a bit quiet in terms of contact because the Super Rugby season is taking place back home and they started some alignment camps a few weeks ago. Hopefully, I can rock up, get the call up and get the knowledge I will need to get.
“There have been some good wins in Super Rugby and it appears that things are slowly coming together and watching those game it is good that all the Springbok guys are performing. You want to see that and it is creating a real difference in the quality of performances. I think we are going to be in a good place going into the World Cup.
“A lot of my good mates are coming over from South Africa to strengthen the Sharks squad. It will give us some depth and while we have done well, when we have got down to the wire we have struggled at points and it is credit to our medical staff to get us through the season.
ADVERTISEMENT
“For the first time our attack was really good against Gloucester and it was something we really focussed on going into the game. We have grown in that sense and what let us down was out defence which had been good this season, however, overall we played well. To get a win in the final game of the season against a quality side is always great but we have a lot of stuff to work on for next season.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments