JOHANNESBURG - We're only two games into the new Super Rugby season and already it appears we’re in for an intriguing battle for the Lions No 9 jersey between Faf de Klerk and Ross Cronje.
While there is no question De Klerk was the first choice man last season, impressing to such an extent that he went on to play 11 Tests for the Springboks, the roles could well be reversed this season, with Cronje set to get more starts for the Lions, and maybe even also over-take his provincial teammate in the national pecking order.
De Klerk never quite lived up to his billing at Test level in 2016 and is under pressure to show in Super Rugby he is the real deal and not a one-season wonder.
On top of that, Rudy Paige never grabbed his Bok chance last year, though he was never afforded many opportunities, and fit-again Cobus Reinach is heading abroad, meaning the Boks will potentially need back-up at No 9.
Piet van Zyl of the Bulls has played for the Boks before and is an option - although he’ll need to get more game-time ahead of Paige in Super Rugby - but it is understood the man on the radar could well be the Lions’ “other” No 9, Cronje.
He’ll be hoping for a for more Super Rugby minutes than the 371 he got last year - compared to the 1043 De Klerk played for the tournament runners-up.
Already it is clear that Lions boss Johan Ackermann will not simply stick with De Klerk because of his form last season and because he is a crowd favourite.
After the Bok No 9 played 74 minutes in the team’s opening match against the Cheetahs, Ackermann didn’t hesitate to drop him for Cronje for the second match, against the Waratahs last weekend.
Cronje had 76 minutes and scored a try in a convincing win in a stellar individual showing.
Interestingly, the two players’ statistics from their only games to date, are strikingly similar: De Klerk made 61 good passes in his game compared to Cronje’s 58, both men made three offloads, De Klerk kicked twice and Cronje once and De Klerk made three handling errors to Cronje’s five.
The most revealing stat is that of ball-carries; De Klerk carried on five occasions against the Cheetahs, while Cronje did so 12 times against the Waratahs.
There isn’t much to choose between the Lions scrumhalves, but there is certainly a sense that Cronje is the more rounded, if not exciting, player. Also, he has leadership qualities and at 27 has been around the proverbial block.
Ackerman has regularly spoken about Cronje’s leadership abilities and the scrumhalf has even captained the side before, so with the Springboks needing a little experience and maturity in the backs, don’t be surprised if Cronje is part of the mix later this year.
His only call-up for the Boks came at the end of 2014 when he replaced an injured Paige in the squad for the final game of the national team’s year-end trip to Europe. Cronje, though, has never really got close to wearing the green and gold.
It’ll be interesting to see how Ackermann uses his two scrumhalves in the coming weeks and months and whether, in fact, one will be able to ascertain if Bok boss Allister Coetzee played any part in encouraging the Lions to give Cronje more game-time than he got last season. Ackermann will name his lineup today for Saturday’s third round Super Rugby match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.