Jesse Kriel, the powerhouse centre for the Springboks, isn't one to bask in the afterglow of victory for too long. Fresh off snapping a vexing losing streak at Dublin's Aviva Stadium with a 24-13 win over Ireland—their first since 2012—Kriel and his squad are already eyeing their next conquest. "This was obviously a really big target for us going into this week," Kriel reflected post-match. "We, as a group, haven't won here before... So very happy with the result. It’s obviously very special."
But don't expect the Springboks to rest on their laurels. Kriel emphasizes the team's forward-looking ethos, "I think the great thing about this team is that we don’t dwell on the past and the things that we’ve achieved. It’s always about the next training session. It’s about pitching up each day and giving your best and then getting the job done. So, I don’t think we’ll dwell on this for too long."
"It was an extremely tough Test match. The guys really dug deep and got stuck into their work and yeah, just really, really happy with the result,"
Kriel noted, underlining the grit displayed on the pitch.
The match itself was a chaotic affair, marred by five yellow cards and one that escalated to a 20-minute red. Kriel admitted, "It was a weird game," but was quick to credit his team’s relentless pressure for rattling their opponents. Despite the disruptions, "I think the guys adapted well and we got the result," he added.
Kriel also had warm words for teammate Malcolm Marx, who scooped the World Rugby Player of the Year award. "I think you can see the reaction when he won the award. He’s probably one of the most humble people I’ve ever played rugby with… He really deserves the award as he had an unbelievable year."
With the Dublin dust barely settled, the Springboks are already gearing up for their tour finale against Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Kriel mentioned, "We’ve got a Test match next week and I think that’s what makes this team special. It’s always about the next job, getting the job done." The goal for the tour was clear from the start—five wins from five. "It will obviously be a massive Test match," Kriel predicted, hinting at the challenges that lie ahead in Cardiff.
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Jesse Kriel, the powerhouse centre for the Springboks, isn't one to bask in the afterglow of victory for too long. Fresh off snapping a vexing losing streak at Dublin's Aviva Stadium with a 24-13 win over Ireland—their first since 2012—Kriel and his squad are already eyeing their next conquest. "This was obviously a really big target for us going into this week," Kriel reflected post-match. "We, as a group, haven't won here before... So very happy with the result. It’s obviously very special."
But don't expect the Springboks to rest on their laurels. Kriel emphasizes the team's forward-looking ethos, "I think the great thing about this team is that we don’t dwell on the past and the things that we’ve achieved. It’s always about the next training session. It’s about pitching up each day and giving your best and then getting the job done. So, I don’t think we’ll dwell on this for too long."
"It was an extremely tough Test match. The guys really dug deep and got stuck into their work and yeah, just really, really happy with the result,"
Kriel noted, underlining the grit displayed on the pitch.The match itself was a chaotic affair, marred by five yellow cards and one that escalated to a 20-minute red. Kriel admitted, "It was a weird game," but was quick to credit his team’s relentless pressure for rattling their opponents. Despite the disruptions, "I think the guys adapted well and we got the result," he added.
Kriel also had warm words for teammate Malcolm Marx, who scooped the World Rugby Player of the Year award. "I think you can see the reaction when he won the award. He’s probably one of the most humble people I’ve ever played rugby with… He really deserves the award as he had an unbelievable year."
With the Dublin dust barely settled, the Springboks are already gearing up for their tour finale against Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Kriel mentioned, "We’ve got a Test match next week and I think that’s what makes this team special. It’s always about the next job, getting the job done." The goal for the tour was clear from the start—five wins from five. "It will obviously be a massive Test match," Kriel predicted, hinting at the challenges that lie ahead in Cardiff.