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Krappies makes Bok No 9 jersey his own

The Lions No 9 has been the Boks standout in 2026…

KEO

Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 8:10 AM

Key Things to Know

Mark Keohane declared Morné van den Berg South Africa's first-choice scrumhalf and most improved Test player of 2026.
Van den Berg was named Player of the Match after scoring a try in South Africa's 66-7 win over Italy.
The 29-year-old Lions scrumhalf recorded 54 passes, 17 kicks, and two turnovers in the Turin fixture.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Mark Keohane and Zelim Nel have praised Morné "Krappies" van den Berg, arguing that the Lions scrumhalf has established himself as South Africa's first-choice No 9. Speaking on the Keo & Zels Show, Keohane named Van den Berg the Springboks' most improved Test player of 2026 following a Player of the Match display in South Africa's 66-7 Nations Championship victory against Italy in Turin.

Van den Berg contributed a try, 54 passes, 17 kicks, and two turnovers during the match. Nel compared his playing style to former Bok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, noting his solid fundamentals and tactical control as coach Rassie Erasmus continues building toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

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Krappies makes Bok No 9 jersey his own

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