The Springbok No 9 jersey comes with huge responsibility. It’s been worn by some of the greatest Springboks of all time such as Joost van der Westhuizen and Fourie du Preez. Faf de Klerk‚ who will make his Test debut against Ireland at Newlands on Saturday‚ is acutely aware of the stature of those that have gone before him and he is desperate to do the jersey proud. “They are great players who have accomplished so much and I look up to them‚” De Klerk said. “Hopefully I can just be a little like them in this jersey. It’s a great honour.” After another superb season with the Lions – now his third in Super Rugby – De Klerk has married his electric play with a degree of circumspection‚ although he still has a tendency to play high stakes rugby at times. But it’s that instinctive play that makes him so effective and something that Bok coach Allister Coetzee doesn’t want to curb‚ at least not totally. “I can’t put Faf in a box and change his way of playing‚ but I can help him to make better decisions‚” Coetzee said when he named De Klerk as the only new cap in the starting XV for Saturday’s first Test. “To use a cricket analogy‚ it’s not about hitting sixes‚ it’s not a T20‚ it’s about building an innings‚ and I’m sure Faf understands that. But when the opportunity is there‚ and with good decision-making and a feel for the game‚ he’ll know when the time is right to have a go.” De Klerk didn't feel he would have to fully change the way he plays‚ something which has been honed over playing for three seasons at the Lions where attacking rugby is ingrained. At Test level‚ playing the percentages is what it’s all about. “I don't have any experience to know what Test rugby is like‚” De Klerk said. “But in a team like the Lions we have been playing very well and that allows you‚ as an individual‚ to perform well. “I’ve worked hard on my basics such as passing‚ kicking and getting to the breakdown and when those things are working‚ you have confidence to try the quick taps and breaks around the fringes. “I haven't been told to alter my game at the Springboks‚ so I'll stick to what I know. Northern hemisphere teams are more used to a slow-paced game‚ so I might try a few tricks and see how Ireland react. If they react positively‚ then we will try something different. “The biggest thing for me is to ensure my decision-making is good‚ you can’t run everything and you can’t kick everything. So it’s important to get that balance right in the different zones of play.” - TMG Digital..