Age 26 (17.1.93) Position Back-row
Last November, ahead of a Test with
Fiji, Scotland boss Gregor Townsend
said: “Peceli Yato must be one of the
best back-row forwards in the world.”
As a Fijian forward in Europe, his
name may have been lost amongst
praise for compatriots Viliame Mata
and Leone Nakarawa. Yet in a season
where Clermont played exceptional
rugby, Yato was a standout.
Whether from openside or No 8, he
thunders into tackles and opens up his
legs in space. In the Challenge Cup,he haunted the Northampton
attack, giving no quarter in defence.
Domestically in the Top 14, he has
shrugged off enforcers like Toulouse’s
Jerome Kaino. On occasion he has
racked up more metres with ball in
hand than the back-three stars.
Against Perpignan in May, Yato was
hailed not for the hat-trick he scored
or the fact Clermont secured a play-off
spot, but because he charged down a
kick and insisted the opposition have
the throw-in when the officials gave
the lineout to his team. Class all round.14 PECELI YATO
13100
BEST PLAYERS
13
FAF DE
KLERK
21
Age 27 (19 October 1991) Position Scrum-halfT
HERE WAS a chorus of
protests when the Gallagher
Premiership Dream Team
was announced without
Sale’s de Klerk at scrum-half. And rightly
so because he has been sensational
since coming to England and acquiring
the astute game management that
some felt he lacked in South Africa.
The greater emphasis on kicking in the
Premiership, where exit plays off the nine
are de rigueur, has helped demonstrate
that de Klerk is now the full ticket.
His hallmark is the blistering
acceleration he brings from the base
and globally there’s no one better at
creating chances against backpedalling
opponents from a penalty. His small
stature – 5ft 8in – helps in this regard,
yet he is no patsy for big forwards,
being as tough as a two-dollar steak.
He’s also a master at engineering line
breaks around rucks, while his harassing
of rival nines at scrums is another strong
feature of his play. He says: “I enjoy
putting teams under pressure, forcing
turnovers and just being a pain really!”
Sale boss Steve Diamond says the
Springbok “has paid us back ten times
over already” and when the Sharks were
faltering against Gloucester on the final
day, de Klerk donned his Superman cape
once more to ensure they stayed in the
Champions Cup frame. “It’s unfair when
he’s on form like that,” said pundit Dave
Flatman. “He’s smaller than everyone
else but better than everyone else.”