Faf de Klerk to remain with Springboks

Livewire scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is set to be at Rassie Erasmus' Springboks disposal for the entire Rugby Championship.

In an interview with Rugby Pass, Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Steve Diamond revealed the Premiership club is willing to operate without the Bok No.9 for the first six matches of their campaign.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that mercurial fullback Willie Le Roux is likely to return to his club, Wasps, after three Championship matches.

However, Diamond is happy to leave his No.9 on Test duty. 

“When Faf [De Klerk] came to us, he was in the Test wilderness and that is no longer the case,” Diamond told RugbyPass.

“I am happy to cope with him having to play for South Africa.

“It is a loss to us, because he is a fantastic player and 12 months ago not many people in England had heard of Faf de Klerk.

“Now he is helping to put South Africa on the map.

“If we miss him for four to six games then so be it. We will get him back in October and off we go. I am happy for Faf to stay for the Rugby Championship and if Rassie decides to try other scrumhalves then we will get him back and that would be a bonus.

“I knew, having watched him play and then meet him, that Faf would set the Premiership on fire with his play and we played better than we had for three or four years with him in the team.

“I take credit with the coaching team for deciding that was the sort of player we needed in England and there is only Danny Care and Ben Youngs who have that ability. They are game changers.”