Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk won’t play any part against the All Blacks in the coming weeks, but he does believe the loss in 2022 against New Zealand at Ellis Park will be a driving force in the team’s preparations this time around.
While the Boks beat their traditional foes in the World Cup final last year, they had a solid win in 2022 in Mbombela but then lost the next week at Ellis Park, leaving the two-match series tied at one apiece.
This year the teams will face off in back-to-back tests again, and De Klerk believes they haven’t forgotten the lessons of Ellis Park.
“They are definitely going to chat about it, and they will definitely speak about how we were dominant in that Ellis Park game and we still managed to lose at the end. The message will be to not let the pressure off at any point and to stick to what we do well,” he explained.
“It is going to be tough, no matter where or how we play them. But now we also have that edge where we can also come back from behind. On that day, it will be who is willing to keep on fighting.”
Steven Kitshoff, Jaden Hendrikse and Canan Moodie have returned from injury and have been named in Rassie's 37-man squad for the two tests against the All Blacks ⚡️
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 20, 2024
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg has also been called up 👇#TRC2024 pic.twitter.com/XwOxQ6CBxM
The scrumhalf may be out of the next few games, but he didn’t want to confirm reports he may only be back next year after a thigh injury.
“I’m seeing a specialist at the moment, but I’m not sure how long (I will be out). But it is looking positive. I’m not really sure when I will return yet, they are still sorting that out. So I don’t really want to say unless I know. It is looking positive and I’m feeling good.
“I don’t really know where it happened, it has been niggling me for a few weeks, through kicking and sprinting. I think it maybe comes from my MCL injury that I had a few months ago and I put strain on it.”
But he sees the injury as a positive, and is enjoying some time off from the game.
“As I’m getting a bit older, I’ve never really been injured in my career. So I’m using this time to spend more time with family, sort the rest of my body out - where there are niggles, aches and pains. It is really not great not to be there, but there are other positives that I lean on more and more. Hopefully on the positive side it will help me prolong my career more, but it is trying to see it as a positive in this situation.”
KICKING STILL KEY
While some may see the emergence of Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach as the perfect pair for Tony Brown’s game plan, De Klerk disagrees, and believes he can flourish under it - and believes while the game plan is more expansive, the kicking game remains a key pillar in the Bok assault.
“I wouldn’t say that. I really enjoy what Tony has brought into the game, it was the way I used to play at the Lions and something I am really enjoying being part of that squad. There are a lot of details that we still need to sort out to make it flow really well. Our main pillars are still our scrum, our maul, our physicality and our kicking game.”
Still, at the moment, with the competition healthy for a starting place, De Klerk is relishing his mentor role to the younger guys, and believes as long as Bok rugby wins, it doesn’t matter who plays.
“You still want to get that starting position every week, so you keep on doing the things to make you stand out, or what they are asking of you. But ja, working with a guy like Morne van den Berg, and a guy like Grant (Williams), it is great. If they play better than me or perform better than me, I am happy for them to do it. If they can perform well for the Boks and we win, I’ll love to give them that opportunity, I’ve had opportunities in my life as well. But for now we try and help each other out.”
The Boks will take on the All Blacks in back-to-back tests - starting with the Johannesburg clash on August 31 and then in Cape Town a week later.