Jesse Kriel can’t wait for his first taste of Test action in 2023 as the veteran Springbok centre looks to make his mark before the final World Cup squad is announced.
He is part of an extended group of Bok players who assembled in Pretoria on Wednesday to prepare for the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Johannesburg next Saturday.
Kriel earned a bronze medal at the 2015 tournament after starting six of the Boks’ seven Tests and, while he received a gold medal in 2019, his campaign lasted just one match due to a hamstring strain.
His experience and versatility has made him a big asset for South Africa, switching seamlessly between centre and wing as a senior player in an enlarged national squad this season.
Speaking to the media this week in the build-up to the Los Pumas duel, the 59-capped Kriel told reporters: “It is great to be back in South Africa with the Springboks. Of course, I am desperate [to play].
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“I definitely want to play. If you ask any single guy in the squad if they do want to play, the answer will always be ‘yes‘. If you don’t want to play, then there is a big problem.”
The former Vodacom Bulls star also highlighted how playing for the Canon Eagles in the Japanese Top League has improved his game.
He added: “A lot more of your time goes into the game. That has been a great thing. I have been there for four years now, and you get a lot more time to work on your game.
“I think the Japanese are also extremely hard-working people and their work ethic is really great. Guys help you after sessions with extras. And I also think there is a lot of ball in play, you are making a lot of tackles.
“Your catch and passes are a massive focus. All those things contribute to making you a better player, and I feel like I’ve become a better player playing over that side.
“There are a lot of other things, but those are the main things that I found to be really good. If you ask a lot of the guys that are playing there, they will tell you the same thing.”
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