Rugby World Cup 2019: De Klerk puts the boot in on social media critics

Faf de Klerk has put the boot in on his social media critics as South Africa prepare to try and kick Wales out of the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. 

Scrum-half De Klerk was named man of the match after his starring role in the 26-3 quarter-final victory over tournament hosts Japan. 

That did not stop some Springboks supporters from calling on the playmaker to cut down on putting up the high balls ahead of a last-four showdown with the reigning Six Nations champions. 

De Klerk defended South Africa’s tactics, however, pointing out they were effective in putting their opponents on the back foot. 

“We do kick a lot, but we try to read the game and the momentum. So, if you look at last weekend, we did kick a lot in the air, and Japan managed to contain our aerial battle,” De Klerk said. 

“But if you look further than that, we managed to get so much territorial gain on them with our defence, with the guys being loaded on that. 

“It was a very positive outcome when we kicked. We did give them possession, but they rarely managed to do anything with it.” 

#PictureJournal Entry 19:
Putting in the hard graft
Feeling the Support from back home
All business this week#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/l3qERBbN5i

— Springboks (@Springboks) October 23, 2019

On facing Wales, he added: “It is going to be a different challenge this week. I don’t think we are going to have the same threats as that [Japan provided].

“It’s all about seeing the space, and I feel our wings have come so far over the last two years. They are really competing well in the air.

“They [Wales] have got very good wingers, so it is going to be a massive battle in the air. We don’t always go out with a set plan of me just going up and kicking.

“We do read the game, and I listen a lot to what Handre [Pollard] is telling me.”

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