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Springboks dealt Kriel blow ahead of crunch All Blacks contest

By Peter Hanson
Jaco Kriel in action for South Africa

South Africa have been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday’s crunch Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand after influential flanker Jaco Kriel was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

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The powerful forward complained of pain in his shoulder following the Springboks’ 23-23 draw with Australia in Perth last weekend.

And Kriel has consequently returned home to South Africa, with no replacement selected in his place.

A South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) statement read: “Springbok flank Jaco Kriel will return home to South Africa after a shoulder injury has ruled him out of Saturday’s vital Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Auckland.

“The industrious flanker complained of a shoulder problem after the drawn match in Perth last Saturday.

“His condition did not improve since then and he was sent for a scan on Monday afternoon in Auckland.

“The scan revealed that Kriel, who has formed a formidable loose trio combination with Siya Kolisi and Uzair Cassiem in recent weeks, had sustained a labrum tear.”

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South Africa also confirmed that prop Wilco Louw has been called into the squad to replace Coenie Oosthuizen, who has a broken arm.

The Springboks have two wins and a draw in this year’s Rugby Championship ahead of the contest in Albany, while the All Blacks are three from three.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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