In a reunion of World Cup rivals, South Africa’s Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel faced off against New Zealand’s Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett in a Japan Rugby League One match. This encounter occurred just weeks after the Springboks secured a 12-11 victory over the All Blacks in the Stade de France to claim their fourth Webb Ellis Cup.
Playing for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, de Klerk and Kriel managed to secure another narrow win, this time with a scoreline of 24-22 against the Toyota Verblitz side featuring All Blacks veterans Smith and Barrett. The match showcased a rematch of the scrum-half battle between de Klerk and Smith, who had previously started opposite each other in the World Cup final in Paris.
世界最高スクラムハーフとも言われる2人🇳🇿🇿🇦
試合が終わればノーサイドです🤝@fafdeklerk @Te_Nug @Canon_Eagles @toyotaverblitz pic.twitter.com/UbXpKhySiF— JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE｜リーグワン🏉 (@LeagueOne_JP) December 16, 2023
Despite Smith scoring a late try in the Japan encounter, the victory once again went in favor of the Springboks. The camaraderie between the players was evident as de Klerk and Smith were filmed chatting after the match, reflecting the bond they’ve likely developed over the years through numerous confrontations in black and green.
Smith, who concluded his illustrious All Blacks career at the World Cup, expressed admiration for the intensity of Test rugby, describing it as “brutal.” He commended the All Blacks’ efforts in the World Cup final against South Africa, emphasizing the champions’ ability to excel in key moments and handle the challenges posed by the game.
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