Springbok captain Jesse Kriel said he was thrilled with the opportunity to lead the team against the All Blacks at 09:05 (SA Time) on Saturday, in what marks his third Test as the Bok skipper.
“Firstly, playing in the green and gold jersey always excites me,” said Kriel, who will be running out for his 83rd Test cap.
“I always want to play my best, and as a team, we want to test ourselves against the best, so this is the ultimate Test match.
“It’s also a vital game for us in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, so it doesn’t get bigger than this in terms of playing the No. 1 team in the world in New Zealand.”
Responding to how he feels about being handed the captaincy even though regular skipper Siya Kolisi will be packing down at the back of the scrum, Kriel said: “It speaks volumes about what a leader and team man Siya is. We all know he is the team captain, but as I’ve said before, this group is filled with leaders in each position, so although this is a massive privilege and I’m really proud, we remain a team.”
Kriel also spoke highly of Savea and his achievements for his country and club, and paid tribute to him as a player, saying he is a hard worker who leads through his actions, although he made sure that the focus remained squarely on the match.
“The All Blacks are a tough team to face regardless of whether they come off a win or a loss,” said Kriel. “The rivalry between the teams is unmatched, and we are extremely motivated to perform well in this encounter.”
