Jesse Kriel sizes up task of replacing 'amazing rugby' Lukhanyo Am

Jesse Kriel has insisted he doesn’t feel any added pressure to match the impeccable recent form of Lukhanyo Am when he steps into the No13 Springboks jersey this Saturday versus the Wallabies in Sydney. Am has been sent back from Australia to his club in Durban, the Cell C Sharks, for further treatment on the knee injury suffered in Adelaide last weekend that has ruled him out of the remaining three Rugby Championship matches.

That unavailability of Am to the Springboks has resulted in the selection of the seasoned Kriel at outside centre. However, while he is well versed in that position having won the majority of his 53 caps there, the 28-year-old has more often been used on the wing during Jacques Nienaber’s tenure in charge of the team.

Kriel started at No13 in the Bloemfontein defeat to Wales in July, but you have to go back to last August in Port Elizabeth versus Argentina to find the previous occasion when he was selected to start in the Springboks midfield. He was instead chosen at right wing for all three games in last November’s Autumn Nations Series and it was at No14 where he was also chosen to start earlier this month versus the All Blacks in Johannesburg.

That appearance didn’t last long, Kriel retiring in the early minutes following a head collision with Caleb Clarke, but he has now been chosen to start at No13 versus the Wallabies alongside Damian de Allende after Am was injured in Adelaide. He is optimistic that he can perform well.

“It is another opportunity that I’m very excited about,” he enthused during a virtually held media briefing from Sydney. “Any opportunity to wear the green and gold jersey, regardless of it being wing or centre, is always special. Very excited to be back on the team this week and hopefully I can contribute to the team’s performance.”

Asked if he was feeling any pressure in taking over from the impressive Am, Kriel added: “Not at all. Lukhanyo has set a great standard, he has been playing amazing rugby. I know what role and responsibilities I have to do in my position and to contribute to the team so I am looking forward to the challenge. Very excited and looking forward to the game.

“Very excited to be back in the midfield with Damian. Regardless of who plays in the midfield, all the guys that cover the midfield role play well together and get along very well together. It’s another good opportunity. We are all good friends off the field and that makes a big difference. It’s always really special playing with guys like Damian”

The midweek exit of Am from the Springboks squad wasn’t the only departure. Handre Pollard, who also picked up a knee injury in last weekend’s Rugby Championship third-round loss, was sent away to his new club Leicester for further treatment. The twin departures are a blow but Trevor Nyakane, this weekend’s replacement tighthead, believes Nienaber’s squad has the ability to handle their absence.

“Those are two of our leaders, two great players who are very good at what they do, but in the Springboks squad we thrive on helping each other and making everyone better and the people that are going to be taking those roles are just as well experienced and just as good as players and leaders,” he reckoned.

“It is sad to have lost Handre and Lukhanyo but Jesse and the guys are coming with a lot of experience as well. It is a blow to us but we have capable guys coming in and have full trust. It is tough to lose them but we have guys that are going to step up and we know they are very well capable of doing the same job.”