Lions centre Richard Kriel is champing at the bit to test himself against a Springbok-laden Bulls outfit in Saturday’s URC Juksei derby in Pretoria.
The Highveld rivals lock horns at Loftus Versfeld in round three of the competition, with Ivan van Rooyen’s Pride making the trip in third place on the log after home wins over the Ospreys and defending champions Leinster.
History favours the Bulls, having beaten the Lions eight times and lost twice, but Johan Ackermann’s men head into the latest meeting on the back of a narrow defeat by Munster in Limerick.
Ackermann will have the likes of Canan Moodie and Handré Pollard to bolster the midfield this week, and Kriel can’t wait to see who he faces down.
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“They have their Boks coming back, and we don’t know if it will be Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs or Handré Pollard who might play 12,” he told reporters in Joburg.
“We don’t know who to prepare for, but that’s also the exciting part. We are looking forward to it regardless of who it is, but it’s going to be a huge challenge.”
This will be the first Jukskei derby without Kriel’s brother David, who joined La Rochelle from the Herd in the off-season. The siblings faced each other five times in the fixture, with David winning all five.
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“For me, it’s still a rugby game,” said Kriel. “It’s the Bulls playing against the Lions; it’s still a massive game, regardless of whether my boet is there or not.”
Kriel has also taken on a bigger role at inside centre this season after adding a few extra kilograms.
“I’m definitely enjoying 12,” the 26-year-old added. “For me, personally, setting up the tries for the wingers is the best.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Kriel keen on Bok challenge at Loftus appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Lions centre Richard Kriel is champing at the bit to test himself against a Springbok-laden Bulls outfit in Saturday’s URC Juksei derby in Pretoria.
The post Kriel keen on Bok challenge at Loftus appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
