Kriel back at 15 where he belongs

Kriel returns to fullback for the first time in more than a year after starting his career in Super Rugby in the 15 jersey in a move that is bound to give him more space to showcase his skills.

Strauss returns after being rested for the trip to Argentina where the Bulls lost against the Jaguares and will lead the team into battle in what is now a must win match for the home side.

The Bulls side three points behind the Sharks with two weeks left and other than winning both games will need to hope the Cheetahs cause a shock against the Durban side this weekend if they are to sneak into the playoff rounds as the third South African qualifier.

Some of the changes are enforced, with injuries to Lizo Gqoboka at loosehead and Roelof Smit on the flank, while Bandise Maku has been given family leave to attend to a family bereavement this week.

Others are to bolster the side, such as Renaldo Bothma and Jannes Kirsten’s inclusion in the starting line-up. Bothma has been itching to start a game for a while now while Kirsten – due to the injury crisis – was back-up lock last weekend and sat on the bench in Argentina.

Pierre Schoeman, whose seven caps are all on the bench, gets his first start for the Bulls while Strauss is in Maku’s place at hooker and veteran Werner Kruger returns to play his 118th and last Super Rugby game for the Bulls before taking up a contract in Wales later this year.

Piet van Zyl swops with Rudy Paige behind the scrum, while Dries Swanepoel moves into Kriel’s old 13 jersey after a good performance in Buenos Aires when he came on.

On the bench, Nqoba Mxoli will make his Vodacom Bulls and Super Rugby debut if he takes to the field.

Marais explained some of the choices and his reasoning on them.

“I’m not happy about last weekend, we wanted a result and we didn’t get it. But there are also a few injury changes. Roelof Smit injured his eye in the first minute in Argentina and had an operation on Saturday night there and he had one yesterday again. It is going much better with him now, and he should be ready in a week or two,” he said.

“Then Bandise (Maku) has been released on family responsibility after his mother-in-law passed away. Piet van Zyl and Rudy Paige have been rotated all season as well.”

While Kriel’s move back to fullback is set to be widely welcomed Marais admitted he wanted to put the Springbok into space and didn’t take the national ambitions into consideration when making the move.

“I haven’t discussed it with Allister or anyone and think SP Marais has done well there. But I think Dries (Swanepoel) played well when he came on and he has been waiting his chance as well. We want to beat the Sunwolves this weekend so we cannot play conservatively and Jesse brings that attacking mindset as well. There is a bit more space for him and he is looking forward to being back in the position where he made his debut.

“It’s been a season of a bit of momentum loss. We struggle to get front foot ball and sometimes not enough ball for the backs to attack with. He didn’t get enough space to really attack and if you look at the Burger and Dries combination, they’re quite a good combination together. If Jesse gets the ball from the back in space he will be quite dangerous and we’re looking to do that this coming weekend.

Strauss warned against the Sunwolves.

“They have shown that they play 80 minutes and we had to dig deep last time when we played them away. That said, we owe our fans at home something positive. The season did not always smile upon us, but we are still in the race and that is the focus for the weekend.”

The team (with Super caps) is: Jesse Kriel (29), Travis Ismaiel (15), Dries Swanepoel (5), Burger Odendaal (16), Jamba Ulengo (8), Francois Brummer (18), Piet van Zyl (66), Renaldo Bothma (16), Jannes Kirsten (13), Lappies Labuschagne (48), Jason Jenkins (11), Marvin Orie (8), Werner Kruger (118), Adriaan Strauss (c, 130), Pierre Schoeman (7). Replacements: Jaco Visagie (7), Nqoba Mxoli (0), Marcel van der Merwe (46), Grant Hattingh (53),Arno Botha (44), Rudy Paige (32), Tian Schoeman (20),

Bullshit, Jessie Kriel belongs at 13, his move to 15 is a stop gap until the impressive Gelant returns from injury. SP Marais has been playing 15 but he has been crap....makes sense to move Jessie to 15 and have both Odendaal and Swanepoel in the starting 15 at centre......given how average SP is.

You clowns should learn the art of this game.

Maybe if you actually read the articles relating to selections it might actually save you all from speaking utter shit.

Kirsten and Bothma were on the bench last week, rotation sees them starting with Arno moving to the bench.

Its average Werner Kruger's last game for the Bulls hence his start given the occasion......glad to be of service

The difference between Kriel and JJ is that Kriel has a harder edge to him. Meyer killed JJ off with his disgraceful dropping of him for useless Jaques Fourie.

Jessie Kriel along with Fekitoa are by far the best young prospects at 13 in the game......Kriel proved that last year in the RC, and was good in the WC with the most clean breaks.

I good coach invests in that safe in the knowledge that everytime a 13 gets the ball at test level he is not going to score a try.....its about investment in a partnership.....de Allende and Kriel have already proved they have it.......this time last year they were the talk of the rugby world.....only fools would conclude that all of a sudden they have lost that x factor and equally they would realise that no test centre in the game is ripping defences apart unless you are suggesting......Roberts/Davies, Farrell/Joseph, Fofana/Basteraud, Tomua/Kurendrani and Crotty/Fekitoa are doing just that?

Get real

Oh what utter crap, so because of one missed tackle by Kriel, stupid Gordon is defining him as not a 13.....so Pakie dear are you saying that de Allende and Kriel were not the talk of last years RC huh? 

By the way dumbass, your link says fuck all.....try again

Oh. My. Word. Springboks attacking from halfway and Handre Pollard feeds a flat pass to Jesse Kriel on an angle to scythe through three All Blacks and then power to the tryline under the black dot. Truly we have scene the emergence in the past two weeks of a special talent in Jesse Kriel, and the foundation of a brilliant midfield partnership.

 Ceradyne

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