Faf de Klerk out to impress in front of Mbombela home crowd

As he prepared for the big Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk remembered his early days as a young player with the Pumas.

De Klerk and veteran No 8 Duane Vermeulen are two players in the Bok squad with strong links to Mbombela — both were born in Mpumalanga and played for the Pumas.

Prop Vincent Koch also has links to the province as he spent a number of his formative rugby years at the Pumas before he transferred to the Stormers and later to Saracens and Wasps in England.

“We [the Springboks] last played here in 2016 and you sort of reminisce on everything you went through,” De Klerk said.

“Me and Vincent Koch had a bit of a laugh the other day saying they don’t know what it’s like to go this route and the stuff we had to go through with [Pumas coach] Jimmy [Stonehouse] back in the day.”

From the Pumas, 2019 World Cup-winning De Klerk left for the Lions before he moved to Sale Sharks in England and then Yokohama Canon Eagles in Japan earlier this year.

“We had a giggle about it and just to reminisce on the sort of battle that you had to travel to get to this place. There are a lot of guys in this group that really had to fight to get here.

“You were written off as a youngster and you weren’t supposed to be here. We take a lot of energy into the game because of that and we want to use that in everything we do.”

On Saturday, De Klerk will once again pit his wits against vastly experienced All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith.

“We have become friends off the field, but we know that once we get on the pitch it’s back to business. He is one of their key players with over a 100 Test matches — that makes him unbelievably successful with what he has been doing over there and it is always good to play with one of the best in the world.”

There are three other scrumhalves in the Bok squad in Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies and Grant Williams. De Klerk said he enjoys the competition.

There is also Cobus Reinach, who is out with a shoulder injury but expected to be fit for the back-to-back clashes against Australia next month Down Under.

“There has always been pressure from the other No 9s ... we are four guys in camp again and I think coach Jacques Nienaber can pick anyone on the day to start. I don’t think we all play a similar game and they will do the job that is needed,” De Klerk said.

“There is always that pressure. If you slip up once, maybe you will get another chance, but if you do it again you are gone because the next guy is ready to go and that’s good.

“If you look at the entire squad, it’s pretty much the same thing. If you are experienced or a youngster coming through it doesn’t really matter, you have to show it on the field. I enjoy big games and pressure and that’s where most guys play really well.”