World class De Klerk sparks Sharks attack

IF THIS is the season that Sale Sharks finally challenge for the Premiership title, it will be done with a distinctly South African flavour and is likely that Faf de Klerk will play a pivotal role.

- ROSS HEPPENSTALL

The effervescent scrumhalf helped the Springboks to a World Cup final win over England in 2019 but any real success in a Sale jersey has so far eluded him following his arrival at the club four years ago.

Here, though, the 29year-old was hugely instrumental once again in a victory that reaffirmed Alex Sanderson’s side as genuine title contenders.

For the second week running, De Klerk’s speed of thought and movement proved too much for a visiting team as Newcastle were put to the sword.

“Faf’s world-class isn’t he? He was superb again and there’s more to come from him, but we had some real stand-out performers across the park,” said Sanderson.