Jesse Kriel Calls for Stronger Springbok Response After All Blacks Defeat

Springbok centre Jesse Kriel says the team will accept its defeat to the All Blacks and work towards a stronger performance in Cape Town next weekend.

The Springboks lost 33-16 in the opening match of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday night.

The team will rest on Sunday before returning to training on Monday ahead of the second encounter at DHL Stadium.

Springboks Turn Their Attention to Cape Town

Kriel said the team would review the Johannesburg Test and work on solutions before the next match.

“We’ll obviously watch the game again and work through it,” Kriel told the media afterwards.

“We have another whole week to prepare, and we’ll do what we need to do. We’re a team that finds solutions, and we’ll be up for it next week.”

The experienced centre earned his 91st Test cap during the Ellis Park encounter.

Missed Opportunities Cost the Springboks

Kriel echoed Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ assessment of the match. At the highest level of international rugby, teams need to convert their opportunities into points.

“In Test match rugby, if you don’t convert and take your opportunities and other teams do, the scoreboard is normally not in your favour and we clearly had to be more clinical,” said Kriel.

“The All Blacks were when they got their chances, and at the highest level between the two best teams in the world, that’s what happens.

“There are very small margins for error in a Test match of this magnitude and on an occasion like this, so we’ll have to be better there, and we are looking forward to the challenge next week.”

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Positional Changes Tested the Team

The Springbok coaches were forced to make several positional changes during the match following a series of on-field developments.

Kriel moved from centre to wing and said the team prepares for such situations.

“In big games like this you have to be able to adapt,” he said.

“It doesn’t normally happen a lot, but when it does, I think we reacted pretty well. I just don’t think we were as accurate as we wanted to be on the night, and New Zealand put us under a lot of pressure.”

Springboks Begin Preparations on Monday

The Springboks will stay in Johannesburg until Wednesday before travelling to Cape Town on Thursday.

After the second Test at DHL Stadium, the team will return to Johannesburg for the third match at FNB Stadium near Soweto.

The Springboks and All Blacks will then travel to the United States for the final match of the series in Baltimore.

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