Springbok star Faf de Klerk says South Africa are ready to “prove the world wrong” by clinching back to back Rugby World Cup titles.
The feisty scrum-half with the flowing blonde hair is one of the most recognisable players in rugby and was instrumental in the Springboks’ World Cup victory in Japan four years ago.
After leaving England’s Sale Sharks last year, he is now playing for Yokohama Canon Eagles. He was one of nine Japan-based players on South Africa’s tour of Europe last year.
De Klerk told AFP that he feels “much better off” physically due to Japan’s relatively shorter league season, and he believes the Springboks will benefit at the World Cup in France this autumn.
“If you peak too early you will burn out,” the 31-year-old said.
“I feel in a good spot considering when I was coming from Sale after a long season going into Springbok games, sort of just hanging on by a thread most weeks. I feel much better.”
This weekend, De Klerk will face Springbok teammates Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende when Yokohama play the defending champions Saitama Wild Knights in the semi-finals of the Japanese championship.
In contrast to many of rugby’s top nations, including England and New Zealand, South African players are permitted to play for foreign clubs while representing their country.
Last autumn, the Springboks travelled to Europe with players from Japan, France, Ireland, and England in addition to South Africa, and De Klerk believes the cosmopolitan mix gives them “a bit of an advantage.”
“Playing styles are different in every competition,” he said.
“When you can bring that all together and pull the best out of each competition, I think it’s a very good thing.”
On their European tour, South Africa narrowly lost to Ireland and France before trouncing Italy and defeating England 27-13 at Twickenham.
De Klerk asserts that “the entire world” believes France will win the World Cup on home soil, but he cautions that the tournament “does strange things to some teams and some players can’t handle the pressure.”
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