Faf won’t rest as he continues to build on new Boks success

SPRINGBOK livewire scrumhalf Faf de Klerk says his Man of the Match showing in the team’s remarkable 42-39 come-from-behind win against England was far from a complete performance and that the team will need to do more if they are to clinch the series in Bloemfontein this weekend.

But De Klerk’s heroics were enough to spark the Springboks to an unlikely victory after trailing by 21 points halfway through the first half. And there would have been various contributing factors to De Klerk’s performance starting with his understanding of England, having played and being one of the standout players in the premiership for Sale Sharks and also returning to his former home ground where he so often ignited the Lions to memorable wins.

De Klerk admits that his time spent in England has helped develop his game but playing in his first Test alongside flyhalf Handre Pollard also helped him speed up the game when the Springboks were in trouble on Saturday.

“I don’t think my game has changed much but I think my game management is a bit better. But playing with experienced guys like Pollard and getting the calls early makes it easy for a player. There is a little bit of experience gained overseas and it didn’t feel like my first game anymore I had a bit more confidence and calmness that always helps. Not a complete performance at all, I still have a lot to work on and so does the team. Hopefully we can start working on Monday and correcting those errors,” said De Klerk. As much as De Klerk’s performance was on the back of his ability to get the ball out quickly to his backs and speeding up the game by finding his charging forwards, the former Hoerskool Waterkloof halfback believes that the Springboks can get better with the kind of showing they put on in the last hour of the game.

“I think we were never forced to kick a lot at the Lions. I think I always enjoyed kicking but now I’m definitely forced to kick a lot more and to get the ball in the right areas of the field. The fact that I was doing it a lot it comes a bit more naturally right now,” De Klerk said.

“It was just excitement. The team suddenly realised how we want to play and what they are actually able to do. They were running over guys, hitting guys back, stepping and scoring tries and for me it is just exciting to see the team realising what they are capable of. Hopefully we can build on that and become a better side.”

De Klerk is under no illusions that England will look to square things up in Bloemfontein and has urged his team to continue on their upward trajectory of scoring tries and winning.

“We know a bit more about England now and they know a bit more about us. We had a few debutants they haven’t really seen play. So I think it is going to even it out a bit more. I think it is going to get tougher and harder but hopefully we can still see some good tries scored,” De Klerk added.