Faf says Dupont one of many French threats: 'We can't just be worried about him'

10.11.2022 - 11:09 news24.com

In ToulonSpringbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk acknowledged that crack French halfback Antoine Dupont is just one of many threats the hosts will pose when they meet at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday.Dupont has been on the losing side in each of the three Tests he's played against the Springboks, but he's a far different player from the nippy scrumhalf the Boks experienced back in 2018.He's not only grown to become France's best, but the world's best after he won the 2021 Men's World Rugby Player of the Year award.The only accolade missing for him and the bulk of his teammates is a scalp against the Boks as they haven't beaten them since 2009.TOUR DIARIES | A luggage nightmare and how French drivers give South Africans a run for their moneyDe Klerk admitted that Australia had a plan that worked for Dupont, but the Boks' different defensive approach means they'll do things differently in Marseille."If I get the chance to get close to him, I'll try whatever I can to stop him.

We do have a different defensive system," De Klerk said."I think they may have told Nick White to take care of him, but we're sticking to our system and once we get the opportunity to stop him, I will do my best."In general play, we're not always going to be close to each other, so it's going to be a team effort to ensure he's taken care of."However, when you look at their side, we can't just be worried about him.

They have other strengths that we need to take care of."15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox NcheSu

springboks Rugby Antoine Dupont Damian De-Allende Siya Kolisi Eben Etzebeth Damian Willemse Willie Le-Roux Frans Malherbe Kurt Lee Arendse Jasper Wiese Franco Mostert Jesse Kriel France Australia South Africa

Bernard Jackman believes Antoine Frisch could make a bigger impact at Munster than international centres Malakai Fekitoa and Damian de Allende.

Eddie Jones defends credentials as England flop against Springboks

Eddie Jones defended his credentials after he watched England produce a rudderless display to end a difficult 2022 with a 27-13 loss to South Africa at Twickenham. Tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse and Eben Etzebeth either side of half-time helped the Springboks ease to a comfortable victory in west London with Faf de Klerk adding an 11-point haul while Damian Willemse kicked two drop goals. World champions South Africa finished with 14 men after Thomas du Toit's 61st-minute red card for a no arms tackle on Luke Cowan-Dickie but Henry Slade's late score was all England could muster during a drab finale to the Autumn Nations Series. It meant Jones' side suffered another defeat, their sixth from 12 Tests in the calendar year, which is their worst run since 2008. The Springboks' dominance across the pitch was reminiscent of their 2019 World Cup final triumph and, despite England going backwards since their runners-up showing in Japan, their Australian head coach insisted they could have a "really good go" at next year's tournament in France. "We want to win. We don't want to get beat by a big score to South Africa and don't want to have the worst record since 2008 so it is a problem but I accept full responsibility for that," Jones said. "Obviously on results we are not happy but I feel like we are building a really good base to have a really good go at the World Cup, a really good go. "A number of young players got great experience today and they'll come back better players for that. We've got other players coming back to form, some of our more senior players and we're not far away. "We need to develop consistently. Test match rugby is all about consistency."

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