Dan Kriel, the twin brother of Springbok Jesse, is set to feature for the USA XV in their second match against Australia A in New Jersey on Saturday, with another South African captaining the Eagles.
Kriel, a former Junior Bok, has been named on the bench with flank Marno Redelinghuys calling the shots on the field.
The Americans are looking to respond after suffering a 61-12 defeat in Nashville last weekend, when Australia A scored 35 unanswered points in the second half.
Redelinghuys, who represented Western Province and the Stormers in 2018 and 2019, takes over the captaincy from Jason Damm, who has been left out of the match 23, as coach Scott Lawrence makes sweeping changes to his starting team.
Kriel represented the Bulls, Stormers, Western Province and Lions before moving to America, where he plays for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby. He qualifies to play for the USA through World Rugby’s residency rule.
“It was never the plan to play for America or something I thought about,” Kriel told Rapport in June.
“When we came over, I only signed a three-year contract and it never occurred to me that one day I would get the opportunity to possibly play Test rugby for America and maybe go to a World Cup.
“America has given so much to me and my family and I would love to represent this country in the 2027 World Cup.
“It would be an incredible honour for me and my family to represent the red, white and blue on an international stage and inspire the younger American rugby generation.”
USA XV – 15 David Coetzer, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 12 Cassh Maluia, 11 Joe Mano, 10 Luke Carty, 9 Ruben De Haas, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 7 Paddy Ryan, 6 Marno Redelinghuys (c), 5 Sam Golla, 4 Nathan Den Hoedt, 3 Mason Pedersen, 2 Kaleb Geiger, 1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth.
Bench: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Fakaosifolau Pifeleti, 18 Tonga Kofe, 19 Vili Helu, 20 Benjamin Bonasso, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Michael Baska, 23 Dan Kriel.
Photo: @usaeagles/Instagram
The post Kriel on bench as Saffa leads USA appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Dan Kriel, the twin brother of Springbok Jesse, is set to feature for the USA XV in their second match against Australia A in New Jersey on Saturday, with another South African captaining the Eagles.
The post Kriel on bench as Saffa leads USA appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
