Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen is nou moeg of people criticising scrumhalf Faf de Klerk.
The lively No.9 delivered a Man of the Match performance in the Boks’ 26-3 win over Japan last weekend, making tackle after tackle, controlling the game with his boot and also getting a try off the back of a superb rolling maul.
Enough to silence his critics?
Apparently not. But Vermeulen has now had enough of the chatter and decided to come to his teammate’s aid.
The Boks’ Thor says: “He is a guy who is always under pressure in South Africa.
IN FORM: Faf de Klerk was Man of the Match v Japan. Picture: Mark Baker/AP.
“I don’t want to say just the media. But the people out there kind of ask different questions they say something different about him: ‘Why do we kick so much?’
“We have a set game plan and we have to stick to that game plan.
“He knows how to play the game and he also keeps to that game plan.
“It doesn’t matter what the people say out there. We know what we want to do and we prepare how to isolate a team who we play.
“It is fantastic to see him put in a Man of the Match performance fantastic.”
LINEOUT THREAT: Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones, centre. Picture: EPA.
Shifting his attention to Sunday’s semifinal battle against Six Nations champions Wales, Vermeulen knows they’ve got a tough match in store ahead of a possible final.
With the Springboks’ lineout working a treat against Japan, he says they will face better opposition at this set piece on Sunday.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/fafdeklerk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fafdeklerkin #JPNvRSA.
He earned himself the @mastercard Player of the Match trophy. Take a closer look and tell us your favourite commentary line from a memorable @Springboks win? #RWC2019 #StartSomethingPriceless #POTM pic.twitter.com/wZmhlc0Drm
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup)
The veteran Bok No.8 says: “We know that Wales will demand more of us next week.
“Alyn Wun Jones is one of the best at the lineout contest and their set piece is very good.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do before facing a side that was recently ranked No 1 in the world.”