Faf de Klerk
Position: Scrum-half
Club: Sale Sharks
Age: 27
If Aaron Smith was the benchmark for scrum-halves
at the last World Cup, Faf de Klerk is this year's.
The Sale Shark is a constant threat around the
fringes, his tactical kicking often impeccable, and
his ability to marshall his side unrivalled. Currently
there is no better half-back in the world at affecting
the tempo of a game, and if de Klerk can influence
games as he has done recently, South Africa can
go far.
Eben Etzebeth
Position: Lock Club: Stormers Age: 27
The relative inexperience of the rest of the players
on this list should be evidence enough as to why
Etzebeth is included. Still only 27 but with seven
years’ Test experience and more than 70 caps to
his name, the giant lock will be a vital cog in many
ways for Rassie Erasmus’ side.
His stature, at 6ft 8in and more than 18st, means
he’s a potent ball carrier, while it also helps
considerably at the set-piece, and attackers won’t
want to meet the Stormers second row in close
confines.
Etzebeth has captained his country in the past, and
may be asked to do so again in Japan, such is his
experience in a relatively young group, but it is
essential he rids himself of the ‘enforcer’ image
that could see him fall foul of referees in Japan
RUGBY WORLD CUP - TOP 10
ISSUE 116 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • 35