Frans Steyn has weighed in on if Faf de Klerk should be involved with the Springboks, and what having the veteran scrumhalf at the Cheetahs means for the next generation.
De Klerk was named Man of the Match after the Cheetahs beat the Stormers XXIII 31-26 at Athlone Stadium on Sunday, the 34-year-old’s second of the Currie Cup since joining the men from Bloemfontein this season.
Celebrating the late win that took the Free Staters second on the log, Steyn was asked whether his fellow two-time World Cup winner ought to still be in green and gold.
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“[Laughs] I don’t want to get involved! I’m not picking the Springbok team, I’m picking the Cheetahs,” the head coach told reporters.
De Klerk scored for South Africa off the bench against the Barbarians on 20 June, before being released from Rassie Erasmus’ wider squad and going on to captain the Barbarians against Wales at Twickenham.
“There’s always space for Faf with us, and he’s only still finding his feet and his voice in our squad,” Steyn said. “We’re so happy to have him … hopefully one day he’ll take my job and I’ll get fired and all of that, and he can make a bigger impact in Free State rugby.
“It’s a big thing for us to have Faf, it’s massive.”
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Steyn believes the 60-cap De Klerk’s presence in rugby’s oldest domestic competition has had a knock-on effect on youngsters honing their craft, as well as himself.
“When you’re young, you think you can kick everybody’s arse!” the former Bok playmaker candidly said.
“He’s the best nine [in the Currie Cup] and people can tell me whatever they want, but he’s a good yardstick for players to see where they’re at, and where they need to improve.
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“Ruan Pienaar was the same when he got to the Cheetahs. They’re just on another level and have a massive impact. They never talk nonsense, they talk sense, and people listen to them,” Steyn shared.
“You saw the radio thing a couple of weeks ago, it was an honest conversation – ‘look, can I do this?’ ‘Ja, you can, but get to your spot on defence.’
“We’re a bunch of young coaches, and we want to learn as much as possible. With Faf here, we learn every day.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
The post Frans on influential Faf’s Bok future appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Frans Steyn has weighed in on if Faf de Klerk should be involved with the Springboks, and what having the veteran scrumhalf at the Cheetahs means for the next generation.
The post Frans on influential Faf’s Bok future appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
