Faf de Klerk to start on return for relegation-threatened Yokohama

Fit-again Yokohama Canon Eagles scrum-half Faf de Klerk starts on his return for the relegation-threatened club who travel to Tochigi to face Honda Heat on Saturday.

The 34-year-old, who returned to Japan in February after receiving treatment in South Africa, has recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in their opening round loss to Shizuoka Blue Revs on 14 December.

Leon MacDonald’s basement outfit has re-registered their Springboks star and - RugbyJP.com can exclusively reveal - it’s Italian international Dino Lamb whose been sacrificed to free up a Category C (international Test player) spot rather than ex-All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman who arrived in January.

© Yokohama Canon Eagles

Yokohama has lost nine of their 10 games this season with their only win coming against Toyota Verblitz on 7 February.

The Jesse Kriel-led side will hope that the return of the Perpignan target will be the catalyst for a change in fortunes.

Yokohama have lost their last three games while hosts Honda, who are captained by Springboks lock Franco Mostert, were routed 66-19 away in Kumagaya by Saitama Wild Knights in their last game a fortnight ago.

Ninth-placed Honda, who will move 600 kilometres from Suzuka to Tochigi next season, are eight points clear of Yokohama and will be confident of moving further away from the relegation play-off zone (bottom two sides).

Kieran Crowley’s improving team is undefeated in Tochigi this season after hosting two games at their future home ground. Honda thwarted Urayasu D-Rocks in January and impressively dispatched faltering champions Toshiba Brave Lupus two weeks later.

The visitors have paired the returning Faf de Klerk with ex-Japan fly-half Yu Tamura, 37, as MacDonald opts for experience in their quest to manoeuvre themselves away from the foot of the table with the prospect of a two-leg relegation play-off looming.

Ex-Highlanders flanker Billy Harmon, a rare bright note in a disappointing season for the 2024 play-off semi-finalists, captains the team in the absence of Kriel.

Faf signs autographs during an opening training day © Yokohama Canon Eagles

Honda’s fire power includes Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere, stalwart Mostert - who plays at blindside flanker for his club – and Los Pumas number eight Pablo Matera.