When Faf de Klerk returned to the Springboks’ fold under Rassie Erasmus in 2018 he was by far the main man in the No 9 jersey.
There were games where he had to play over 70 minutes because he was an integral part of the Springboks’ game plan, with his towering left-footed box kicks and his amazing ability to cover and make scrambling tackles behind the South Africans’ rush defence.
Six years later De Klerk is still in the Springboks’ fold, but Erasmus’ side is now blessed with a lot of talent in that department. The once bare scrumhalf cupboard is now overflowing.
So much so that De Klerk was one of four scrumhalves in the 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, along with Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse. This year Lions No 9 Morné van den Berg made his Bok debut, while Embrose Papier, the versatile Sanele Nohamba and Herschel Jantjies are on the outside looking in.
More from @Springboks scrumhalf Faf de Klerk on his injury.
— Tiisetso Malepa (@TiisetsoMalepa) August 21, 2024
"It's a thigh injury that's been niggling for the last few weeks. I felt it when kicking and sprinting."#CityPress was with him in Kyalami as we build up to the home #CastleRugbyChampionship clashes against #AllBlacks. pic.twitter.com/Gb5dzKjsdK
De Klerk, however, currently finds himself on the sidelines because of a thigh injury after starting in the two-Test series against Ireland, while Hendrikse made a return to the squad for the upcoming Tests against the All Blacks at home.
The competition is fierce, but De Klerk, who turns 33 in October, is still very much up for the fight, and feels he still has a lot to offer.
“You still want to get that starting position every week, so you're doing everything you can in training to stand out,” De Klerk said at a Castle Lager even ahead of the Rugby Championship matches against the All Blacks.
“Working with a guy like Van den Berg and Grant, it is great. If they play better than me, or perform better than me, I am happy for them to do it.”
“It is very much body dependent [playing towards the 2027 World Cup]. If the body keeps going, I’ll probably keep going.
“Before this injury, I was actually feeling really good and young again on the field. I don't want to put a date on it... At least another two years,” he added.
While De Klerk won’t be involved in the highly anticipated matches against the All Blacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town, he says the Boks are wary of the challenge that face them, even if they are seen as the favourites for the Rugby Championship title.
The Boks top the standings following two bonus wins against Australis Down Under, while the All Blacks suffered a shock loss to Argentina’s Los Pumas in Wellington, before bouncing back with a comprehensive win in Auckland.
In 2022 the Springboks went into a Test at Ellis Park against the All Blacks also as the hot favourites following a convincing win in Mbombela. But the All Blacks came out firing to win that match, which paved the way for them to win the Rugby Championship.
“The Boks are definitely going to speak about how we were dominant in that whole game, and then we still managed to lose it at the end,” said De Klerk.
“I think it is going to be about not letting the pressure off them at all, and just sticking to what we do well.
“It is going to be tough, no matter where you play them or how you play them. We also now have that edge where we can come back from behind. So, on the day, it will be about who is willing to keep fighting.”
@JohnGoliath82