Year End Player Notes....Faf de Klerk 7/10

Like Willie Faf has his detractors, and he is an up and down player. But when he is really in full competitive mode he wins test matches. Nothing about Faf is truly top 5, except his spirit and his breaks from the base. Oddly we have seen less of those this year....he needs to be encouraged to deploy that skill. But nobody sees the opportunity or the threat sooner. Defensively he saved the Boks on many occasions. He is a better tackler than the flimsy Papier, if still not in the Connor Murray class......but he is the player likely to be in position to snuff out the threat. His boot was wayward in a few tests....but so was the kick chase. Our wings have been toothless in the chase, which makes our kicking look even worse. Faf is a key player heading to the RWC with the guts to take to the big stage and fight for the win.