Jesse Kriel is buzzing with anticipation for Andre Esterhuizen's upcoming showdown with the Wallabies at Ellis Park this Saturday. Having led the Springboks in earlier matches, Kriel is back in the saddle, playing at No 13 for the Rugby Championship kick-off, and he’s all in on Esterhuizen making waves.
“Andre’s devastating with ball in hand and has a great understanding of the game, like Damian does,” Kriel remarked. The synergy between Esterhuizen and Damian de Allende is something Kriel admires, noting, “It’s been great to see how closely they work together to improve each other’s games.” Esterhuizen, who took the field at 12 in the second Test against Italy, is set to dazzle once again in Johannesburg.
“I’ve played with Andre quite a bit, including against Australia, so I’m excited for him to show what he can do.”
The dynamic duo of Esterhuizen and Kriel are gearing up to tackle Wallabies midfielders Len Ikitau and Joseph Suaalii, who have proven their mettle in the recent series against the British & Irish Lions. “They are both great athletes with excellent skill sets,” Kriel acknowledged. He emphasized the need for the Boks to play to their strengths: “They showed in the Lions series what they can do, so for us it’s about going out there, executing what we’ve trained, and embracing the challenge.”
Kriel is buoyed by the Boks’ rigorous preparation over the past three weeks, confident that they are primed to confront a Wallabies team that nearly toppled the Lions. “We drive extremely high standards in this environment, with so much competition in every position,” he asserted. This preparation, Kriel believes, sets them up nicely for the weekend’s clash.
“We’ll see on Saturday whether we’re battle-hardened enough. For me, it’s about how you pitch up every day – your mindset in training and throughout the week.”
Representing South Africa is never taken lightly within the team, and Kriel is no exception. “It’s a huge opportunity, and no one here takes it lightly. We’ll be ready for the challenge,” he concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.