Yokohama’s Faf de Klerk left out of Boks squad

Yokohama Canon Eagles’ double World Cup-winning scrum-half Faf de Klerk has been overlooked for South Africa’s 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Rugby Championship against Australia.

The 33-year-old featured for the Springboks off the bench in their season-opening Test match against Italy which saw starting scrum-half Morne van den Berg score two tries in their 42-24 triumph.

Former Sale Sharks star de Klerk replaced Grant Williams in the 55-10 rout against Georgia on Saturday and showed his quality with a perfectly weighted chip over the top to play in wing Edwill van der Merwe.

Mbombela native de Klerk suffered a season-ending hand injury against TJ Perenara’s Black Rams Tokyo on March 15 and returned to his homeland to undergo surgery.

His appearance against Italy was his first for his country since their July 2024 home defeat to Ireland.

During his absence de Klerk has inevitably slipped down the pecking order as Rassie Erasmus, who masterminded back-to-back World Cup wins, has juggled his stacked talent pool to offer everyone game time and to intensify the competition for places.

Stormers stalwart Cobus Reinach, 35, Lions standout Morne van den Berg, 27 and the Sharks’ Grant Williams, 29, are the three scrum-halves in the 37-man squad.  

League One star de Klerk is not the only high-profile name to miss the cut with fellow World Cup winners, former Kobe Steelers wing Lukhanyo Am and ex-Red Hurricanes Osaka speedster Makazole Mapimpi, also overlooked.

However, the trio have been handed a lifeline after being named on the Springboks’ standby list along with lock Salmaan Moerat, number eight Evan Roos, prop Neethling Fouche and flanker Vincent Tshituka.

Urayasu D-Rocks number eight Jasper Wiese misses out due to his suspension after being sent off in their second Test against Italy for a headbutt after 22 minutes.

Japan Rugby League One is well represented with forwards Lood de Jager (Saitama), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota) Malcolm Marx (Kubota), Franco Mostert (Honda) and Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka) all included. Backs Damian de Allende (Saitama), Jesse Kriel (Yokohama), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory) and Osaka-bound Manie Libbok (Kintetsu) were also named.

The all-conquering Springboks will face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August in the Rugby Championship opener and again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August.

Reflecting on the squad selection, which includes includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players, Erasmus said: “It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

“This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches.

“We have also informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them, so that all of them are ready to step up if needed.”