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Kriel a big loss to Bok World Cup campaign

rugby01 October 2019 10:35| © SuperSport
By:Gavin Rich
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Jesse Kriel © Getty Images

Centre Jesse Kriel has been ruled out of the rest of the Springbok World Cup campaign by the injury that prevented him from playing against Namibia and will be replaced in the squad by young Stormers utility back Damian Willemse.

Although he is replaced by a good player who is an undoubted star of the future Kriel’s departure leaves a massive hole in the midfield, one that will be hard to fill even though national director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is confident he has other players who can play Kriel’s position of outside centre.

He is also a loss in terms of experience. Kriel was one of the survivors from the 2015 World Cup, where he also played outside centre, and he was a popular member of the squad.

The Bulls centre suffered a slight hamstring strain after the opening Pool B clash with the All Blacks and the Bok coaches said they were being conservative in electing not to risk him against Namibia. Erasmus was confident that he would be be back if not for Friday’s clash with Italy in Shizouka then certainly the final Pool B game against Canada next Tuesday.

However although on Monday morning the Bok coaches were confident Kriel would be fit to play Italy, Kriel ran on his own when the Boks trained on Monday afternoon, the day before the match day squad for the Italy game was to be confirmed. He was not included in the team for the Italy game and on Tuesday evening Japan time Erasmus confirmed the bad news.

“I feel for Jesse. He has been in the match-day 23 for almost every match since I took over and is a model professional. He was a key member of the squad,” said Erasmus.

Kriel made a definite difference when he came on as a replacement in the second half against the All Blacks and apart from Cheslin Kolbe and Damian de Allende he was one of very few South African backs to make an impression in that game. The Boks will miss Kriel’s defensive organisation skills, particularly if they collide with the All Blacks again in this tournament. Although Lukhanyo Am is the starting outside centre and deserves his place Kriel has invariably been the man to finish the games against the All Blacks and has often made an impact.

Meanwhile Willemse will fly out from England, where he has been on loan to Saracens. The 21-year-old former Junior Springbok captain would probably have been in the Bok World Cup squad had it not been for the injury that ruled him out of rugby towards the end of the Super Rugby season and persisted into the international season.

He only made his return to the field for Western Province towards the end of the Currie Cup and although he impressed in a losing cause it was felt that he had missed the chance he needed to develop at international level in the build-up to the World Cup. Willemse though was understood to be bitterly disappointed to be left out and this call-up will make up for that disappointment.

“Damian would have been more involved with us this year but for injury, but he is familiar with our systems and should have no problem slotting in,” said Erasmus.

“He has the ability to play in a number of positions in the back division, while other players can cover Jesse’s No 13 jersey.”

Willemse has five Bok caps to his name, all of them accrued during his first year of international rugby, 2018. He has played most of his rugby at flyhalf but played fullback when selected for the Boks last year and was the best home grown fullback during the 2019 Super Rugby season before his injury. He has also played at inside centre at provincial level.

Although Erasmus has consistently stated his aversion to backing an inexperienced flyhalf in a World Cup, Elton Jantjies was not good when he started in the game against Namibia and the decision to call up Willemse instead of another centre may well be an indication that Erasmus is concerned about the depth in that position. Willie le Roux has also struggled with his form in Willemse’s other position of fullback.

Although seen as a utility back so far during his international career, Willemse is considered a future Bok flyhalf and has all the attributes to excel in the position at international level.

Willemse is the second replacement in the Springbok squad. Prop Thomas du Toit had previously replaced Trevor Nyakane, who like Kriel was injured when playing as a replacement in the second half against the All Blacks.

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