Bok camp divide exposed as PSDT’s own Test teammate tries to get him sent off
The last thing that Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus will want at the beginning of a World Cup year is a rift within their Springboks camp, but there were worrying signs at the weekend.
The incident in question was a match in Japan Rugby League One between the Yokohama Canon Eagles and Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and two Springboks. It looks as though Faf de Klerk’s aim to wind up the opposition is not reserved exclusively for non-South African players, rather anyone is up for grabs in the scrum-half’s eyes.
Up against his Springbok teammate and fellow World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit on Saturday, the No9 was on the receiving end of what was a fairly dubious tackle by the flanker. As de Klerk darted towards the corner around the blindside of a scrum, du Toit produced a covering tackle that started on the scrum-half’s midriff but finished at head height. De Klerk immediately got to his feet and started protesting about the height of the tackle, maybe not knowing that it was his own Test teammate that he was trying to get punished.
Fortunately for Nienaber and Erasmus, nothing came of it. Otherwise it could have been an awkward first few days of the next Springboks camp had du Toit been sent off.
Just a few minutes later De Klerk was getting hit dangerously again, this time with a dangerous clear out at the ruck by Kiwi lock Michael Allardice. On this occasion it was deemed dangerous and the lock was red carded. The Canon Eagles were leading only 5-0 at the time of the red card, but went on to win the match 39-7.
Meanwhile there are almost four months before the Springboks reconvene for the Rugby Championship meaning the dust probably would have settled if there was any bad blood between de Klerk and du Toit.
Take a look at du Toit’s tackle:
