I ENJOY BEING A PAIN
In his native South Africa FAF DE KLERK loves to go hunting. Now he preys on rival No 9s and admits…
“We put teams under a huge amount of pressure and won a lot of turnovers from it”
FAF DE KLERK has a passion for hunting. Back home in South Africa, it was a hobby which started with a bow and arrow. More recently, in Cheshire, he has honed it as a weapon for work. The 27-year-old Sale scrumhalf is one of the players of the year, as officially recognised by World Rugby on their annual award shortlist. He has ignited his career since moving to the North West by learning to stalk different types of prey.
In a sport awash with wildlife branding, there are endless targets. Today, at the AJ Bell Stadium, De Klerk will go Bearhunting on behalf of his club, against Bristol. In Test mode, he has earned endless plaudits in 2018, in the successful pursuit of Pumas and Wallabies, and the notoriously elusive Kiwis.
There is not much outlet for his long-standing hobby in these parts. ‘I’ve done clay-pigeon shooting here, that’s about it,’ said De Klerk. ‘I miss hunting and when I go home I always find an opportunity to go for a hunt again, out in the bush veldt.
‘I’ve always enjoyed it. When we were younger, my brother and I would go out bow hunting. That got me into it. We hunted all kinds of wildlife — things with big horns normally. Deer, kudu, stuff like that. We always shot for meat. We’d cut out some nice steaks and put them on the fire at night.’
In South Africa, it is a popular pursuit. In Britain, not only is it less widespread, it is also the subject of frequent criticism and opposition. De Klerk is aware it is a sensitive subject, adding: ‘You need to be aware of what you’re putting on social media and what you’re talking about.
‘You have to respect what other people believe in, but I love being out in nature and appreciating what is around me.’
Since coming to Sale from Johannesburg-based Lions 18 months ago, De Klerk has learned to hunt on the field, to telling effect. He has an ability to raise the attacking tempo, cause havoc with his running game, kick goals and provide slick distribution.
But what has really caught the eye is how he has become adept at harassing opponents. Fellow No 9s are preferred prey. ‘I enjoy defending,’ he said.
‘I enjoy putting teams under pressure, forcing turnovers and just being a pain really!’
And when the Springboks claimed a momentous, historic victory over New Zealand in Wellington in September, an abiding image was of De Klerk wreaking havoc, hounding All Black scrum-half Aaron Smith and cutting off the hosts’ attacking supply line.
It was a template he had refined at Sale and used to galvanise South Africa. ‘People know how good Smith is and what he brings to the team, but as a nine playing in that team, you are so comfortable,’ said De Klerk. ‘You’re never under pressure and you’re always getting front-foot ball. ‘I started doing it at Sale, where I’d see other nines who seemed to have a lot of time and I realised that I really needed to put them under pressure. We started that here. We put teams under a lot of pressure and won a lot of turnovers from it. ‘With South Africa, we picked up that Smith was a bit too comfortable behind the rucks, so we got in their faces and I tried to get in his face. I knew they just expected him to be at every ruck, to deliver quick ball, so I had to hit him and keep him on the ground a second longer.’
The strategy worked a treat. Smith and the All Blacks were stifled and stunned.
De Klerk was an inspirational presence, as he had been in the 2-1 series victory over England in June, after being recalled by new head coach Rassie Erasmus on the strength of his magnificent form at Sale.
His energetic exploits were always plain to see, partly because his long blonde hair makes him stand out from the crowd.
‘I’ve had hair like this from when I was one or two,’ he said. ‘I probably looked like a little girl when I was younger!’
De Klerk grew up in Nelspruit, close to Kruger National Park. His father played rugby in the army and for local club sides until he was 40. His mother played hockey.
Sport was an obsession which was constantly encouraged. Faf did athletics and gymnastics, but his primary interest was cricket, until a junior contract with the Lions put him on the path to a professional rugby career.
Having burst on to the Test scene in 2016, he chose to sign for Sale after sensing he had fallen out of favour with the Springboks.
The Premiership club provided a platform for him to prove his worth and play for his country again, much sooner than he expected.
Erasmus picked him in defiance of national selection policy, which dictates that — outside a World Cup year — exiles need to have at least 30 caps to be eligible. Terms are being finalised for a contract extension which will keep him at Sale for several more years. It has worked out well for both parties.
‘He was an instant hit here,’ said Steve Diamond, Sale’s director of rugby. ‘He’s a great lad, he’s not up himself, he trains hard, he gives a s*** about it, he’s respectful.
‘We have to stop talking about the opportunities we give him because he’s paid us back 10 times over already. He wants to create something here.’ He also wants to create something in Japan. The Springboks’ World Cup opener is against New Zealand. It is a fixture which could have profound implications for the tournament and De Klerk is bullish about it.
‘That first game is going to be amazing,’ he said. ‘We can turn everything on its head and surprise a lot of people. One of Rassie’s main points was that if we can beat New Zealand away, our chances of winning the World Cup will go up so much more.
‘We’ve done that, so we know we can beat them in that pool game on neutral ground.’
Smith and his fellow Kiwis won’t relish seeing De Klerk on another hunting mission. Neither will the Bears from Bristol today.