FAF DE KLERK: Twitter takes off after nasty-looking challenge on Springboks star goes unpunished

An incident between Springboks star Faf de Klerk and Wales international Jake Ball has come under the spotlight following Sunday’s Champions Cup clash between Sales Sharks and Scarlets.

The South African scrum half was set to distribute the ball from the back of a ruck when Ball dived through the breakdown to take him out, virtually landing on top of the playmaker.

The collision appeared to make direct contact with the head of de Klerk and the scrum half appealed to the linesman in frustration that the incident wasn’t spotted by the referee.

How was this shot to the head of Faf de Klerk by Jake Ball not checked properly by the TMO and referee?! They said it was legal because the hand was on and the ball was out, how about the shoulder to head?! French officials hey….pic.twitter.com/GGx5Gu1bg2

— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) April 4, 2021

The challenge wasn’t reviewed by the TMO which has led fans and pundits to question the severity of the tackle on social media.

REACTION:

Guessing there’s still some unresolved issues between Faf de Klerk and Jake Ball🤣 #SCAvSAL #fafdeklerk #scarlets #salesharks pic.twitter.com/aPxFJ4dtcN

— Carys (@CarysSports) April 4, 2021

Faf de Klerk dans le viseur, Jake Ball s’est offert un petit plaisir. Et ça secoue! #ChampionsCup #SCARSAL pic.twitter.com/KxE7NLMHqV

— Anthony Tallieu (@ATofficiel) April 4, 2021

Such a cheap shot from Jake Ball on Faf de Klerk. #SCAvSAL

— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) April 4, 2021

So @fafdeklerk has just been absolutley melted in the head by Jake ball. Apparently been checked by tmo and nothing has come from it??? What is the rule? Can you make contact with the head or not? #concistencyiskey

— Luke Povey (@LukePovey) April 4, 2021

45′ | 🐲00-30🦈

Shoulder to the head on Faf de Klerk overlooked by the officials and Scarlets have a scrum on the Sale 22.#SCAvSAL

— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) April 4, 2021

What Jake Ball did to @fafdeklerk was nothing short of a red. If faf had done that. The press would gone mental dirty South African. Faf still has a world cup he doesn’t. #SCAvSAL #HeinekenChampionsCup #btsport

— Cheap African Labour 🇿🇦 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 (@SeasonTravelerZ) April 4, 2021

Faf de Klerk x 1 World Cup 🏆

Jake Ball x 0 World Cups 🚫

You do the math.#SaffasAbroad #HeinekenChampionsCup

— Saffas Abroad Rugby 🇿🇦🏉 (@SaffasRugby) April 4, 2021