Captain Jesse Kriel: Start of a crucial season for Boks and we want to set the tone against the Barbarians
CAPTAIN Jesse Kriel looking to lead the Springboks to the right direction as they open their Test season with the Barbarians. | Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
The Springbok coaches and players have been speaking from the same mouthpiece the entire week and haven't deviated from their plan to play at Test-match intensity against the Barbarians in Cape Town.
While the invitational side will look to open the game with their flair and instinct that is true to the club, despite the predicted wet weather conditions, the world champions want to use this 2025 opening clash at the DHL Stadium (5.10pm kick-off) as a match to lay a benchmark for the rest of the season.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus stressed it on Tuesday with his team announcement. Before him, attack coach Tony Brown spoke about handling the clash as a Test on Monday.
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On Friday, stand-in captain Jesse Kriel emphasised it in short as well: 'We will treat it like a test.'
The Boks are aware that the Cape winter might spoil their chances of delivering a spectacle in the festival match. However, the focus will first be on getting their season off to a proper start as they prepare for a watershed Test season ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Kriel replaced regular captain Siya Kolisi as the leader with the latter pulling out with a stiff neck. The outside centre said they've arguably had one of their toughest two-week camps in his time with the Boks and he's ready to see them translate that training onto the playing field, starting against the Baabaas.
Jesse Kriel on the #Springboks captaincy: 'I'm very happy about accepting this responsibility, although I was a little nervous at one stage' 🫡#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) June 27, 2025
'We've worked hard on how we want to play and what we want to achieve as a Springbok team. This game is the first opportunity to test it,' Kriel said on Friday.
'It is a crucial first game. You wait six months at your club, and you want to perform well there to be involved here. This is what you want to be involved with, these kind of games and test matches. The guys are excited about it and are embracing the opportunity.
'We are approaching this game as a Test. It is the start of a massive season for the Springboks and looking at what we want to do, this is a crucial game to set the tone.'
Kriel says he is extremely honoured and excited to lead the Boks for the first time. However, not a lot will change for him and how he plays his game. He will rely on other leaders, such as Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe in the backs, and hooker Malcolm Marx and Lood de Jager in the forwards.
He says he has been very fortunate to learn from and be surrounded by strong leaders like Siya Kolisi and Handré Pollard.
According to him, not much will change on Saturday, even if he is captain.
Your #Springboks team to face the @Barbarian_FC in Cape Town tomorrow, and what a special team photo for Jesse, Vincent, Marnus, Asenathi and Neethling 🤩#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/2Rvoo8z90Q — Springboks (@Springboks) June 27, 2025
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CAPTAIN Jesse Kriel looking to lead the Springboks to the right direction as they open their Test season with the Barbarians. | Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers The Springbok coaches and players have been speaking from the same mouthpiece the entire week and haven't deviated from their plan to play at Test-match intensity against the Barbarians in Cape Town. While the invitational side will look to open the game with their flair and instinct that is true to the club, despite the predicted wet weather conditions, the world champions want to use this 2025 opening clash at the DHL Stadium (5.10pm kick-off) as a match to lay a benchmark for the rest of the season. Head coach Rassie Erasmus stressed it on Tuesday with his team announcement. Before him, attack coach Tony Brown spoke about handling the clash as a Test on Monday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ On Friday, stand-in captain Jesse Kriel emphasised it in short as well: 'We will treat it like a test.' The Boks are aware that the Cape winter might spoil their chances of delivering a spectacle in the festival match. However, the focus will first be on getting their season off to a proper start as they prepare for a watershed Test season ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Kriel replaced regular captain Siya Kolisi as the leader with the latter pulling out with a stiff neck. The outside centre said they've arguably had one of their toughest two-week camps in his time with the Boks and he's ready to see them translate that training onto the playing field, starting against the Baabaas. Jesse Kriel on the #Springboks captaincy: 'I'm very happy about accepting this responsibility, although I was a little nervous at one stage' 🫡#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) June 27, 2025 'We've worked hard on how we want to play and what we want to achieve as a Springbok team. This game is the first opportunity to test it,' Kriel said on Friday. 'It is a crucial first game. You wait six months at your club, and you want to perform well there to be involved here. This is what you want to be involved with, these kind of games and test matches. The guys are excited about it and are embracing the opportunity. 'We are approaching this game as a Test. It is the start of a massive season for the Springboks and looking at what we want to do, this is a crucial game to set the tone.' Kriel says he is extremely honoured and excited to lead the Boks for the first time. However, not a lot will change for him and how he plays his game. He will rely on other leaders, such as Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe in the backs, and hooker Malcolm Marx and Lood de Jager in the forwards. He says he has been very fortunate to learn from and be surrounded by strong leaders like Siya Kolisi and Handré Pollard. According to him, not much will change on Saturday, even if he is captain. Your #Springboks team to face the @Barbarian_FC in Cape Town tomorrow, and what a special team photo for Jesse, Vincent, Marnus, Asenathi and Neethling 🤩#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) June 27, 2025
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