Jessie Kriel can be SA’s best ever centre since JJ

SpringboksMeyer: Kriel can be SA’s best ever centre2015-07-08 15:39SHARE THIS
 Cape Town - Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer believes Jesse Kriel has the potential to be the best outside centre South Africa has ever produced.Kriel has been a top performer at fullback for the Bulls during Super Rugby this season, showing great threat with ball in hand on attack, while his efforts under the high ball and on defence has been solid. This form was rewarded with an official call-up to the Springbok squad.There’s more good news for the 21-year-old as he was named in the starting line-up for the Springboks’ match against the World XV at Newlands on Saturday.The speedster will start at outside centre, a position he has played before at various levels - from schoolboy to SA Under-20s.Meyer believes he can be a huge talent in the No 13 jersey.“I’ve worked with Jesse before as a junior and I played a part in him joining the Bulls after school,” Meyer told MyPlayers.co.za.“He is a young player with a massive amount of talent, while he also has the willingness to learn. I’ve decided to run him at outside centre, where I believe he can add a lot of value.“He has great speed and his acceleration off the mark can be a big threat on attack. He has the potential to be the best outside centre South Africa has ever produced.“It will be a good challenge for him, Damian de Allende (inside centre) and Handre Pollard (flyhalf). These three young players have been in great form during Super Rugby, but they haven’t played as a combination before.“I know on attack, they should be able to make a great impact, but on defence, they will need to focus and put in a big effort, especially against an experienced and exciting World XV game.”Meyer added that Kriel can still add value as a fullback and wing.“Jesse offers some versatility. He can still play a role at fullback. I’m thinking of giving him some time in the position towards the end of the match against the World XV. We will see if the opportunity arises. I also believe he can add value at wing,” said Meyer.In an interview earlier this year, Kriel said he would play in any position needed.“I do enjoy fullback and I’d say it’s my preferred position. I enjoy the space one gets. But I also enjoy my time at centre. I love making a contribution on attack and having more time with ball in hand. I’ll play wherever the team needs me to play,” said Kriel.Teams:Springboks15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai MtawariraSubstitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jean de VilliersWorld XVTBA For more exclusive player content, check out MyPlayers.co.za

And JJ was the best since Gerber. Talk about pulling the cart before the horse

Times have changed, even wings have to be physical these days. Maybe in the 60s Kriel might have been an effective outside centre....today he doesn't have the  maneuvering skills in the tight spaces and heavy collisions of modern rugby. 

He is a fullback or wing, but whether he is better than others in the mix is not clear.

 Funny how JJ's name popped up when speaking of Jesse Kriel.
They have much in common ... namely explosive pace ... a tendency to tackle too high ... are easily shrugged off as a result of their tackle technique ... a poor work rate ... unable to create something from nothing and tend to rely on being put into the gap ... not fond of passing the ball ... both are retreaded outside backs ... neither have a natural ability at centre ... and they both tend to disappear completely in the last twenty of each half.
Put it this way ... without meaning to sound too harsh ... there is no way that I would want either of them to play for the Lions.

Lionel Mapoe and Harold Vorster are both streets ahead of them. They understand the position and that much is as clear as a sunny day for those who would but look ... right Mike??
I sincerely hope that our quota coach sees this and discards him as one would a used condom.

 To some, a player just has to do one or two good things to be regarded as the next best thing or a class act. It quite often escape their attention that it's an accepted norm for a back to have good hands, a step or a swerve and some pace. Understanding his role and the ability to think on his feet are all part of being a good centre.

 Jesse Kriel is not playing like a 13 - he is a crashballer who does not know how to and when to pass balls.  He has bulked up too much and slowed down.   That makes him feel he is Tarzan that can run over opponents - very disappointing thus far this year.
Neither Mapoe nor De Jongh is international level 13's though - so we will have to see who develops in future.   I like Harold Vorster - but he is out of contention as a result of injury.   Last year he did better at 13 than at 12 and I feel that is where he should play. 
When is Vorster coming back into contention - initially it was said that it would be in June - any news on that one?         

 Mike ... why do you keep putting Lionel Mapoe's name down alongside De Jongh's?  
They have two very different playing styles and comparing the two is like comparing apples with cabbages.  
There is no comparison.

CC  
Just one observation about similarities - both are useless in ball protection when a teammate gets tackled and both are equally sub-standard passers of the ball.  Those are the major similarities of major importance.  Mapoe is better in attacking play - but considerably slower in pace than De Jongh.   
Both are not international centers - that at least is my opinion on the two of them.
    

Jesse Kriel was one of our only backs who showed any penetration at the last RWC. He is a great prospect. To equate him with a non-tackling failure like JJ Engelbrecht is completely unfair.

Ou Maaik, your assessment of Juan de Jongh is about as relevant as Moffie's assessment of Marcell Coetzee or Damian de Allende . . . or Alutwat's opinion of Pat Lambie.

You can say what you like about being even-handed and unbiased in your assessments but everyone knows you hate Juan de Jongh and Willem Alberts. Those two players can perform brilliantly and you'll still find some reason to moan about them . . . as you've done in the past.

Juan de Jongh and Willem Alberts are both quality players (and Victor Matfield was a world -class lock in his day) but please, don't bother trying to change my mind, we know what you think of them . . . you have told us literally hundreds of times and nothing they do on the field will ever change your mind.

Incredible the guy who thought  Etzebeth and Vermeulen shouldn't be Springboks lecturing others on player assessments.. ....wehe LMAO.