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Bok Kriel poised for return from injury for play-off push in Japan

Jesse Kriel of South Africa celebrates following the team’s victory during the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

South Africa centre Jesse Kriel is set to make a timely return to action on Saturday as his Yokohama Canon Eagles take on the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars is Japan Rugby League One.

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The double World Cup winner has been out of action since January after undergoing an operation on his thumb, but will return for the final three matches of the regular season. He will start on the bench at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

The Canon Eagles currently sit in fourth place in the league, which is sufficient to reach the semi-finals in May.

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However, with a clash with the unbeaten league leaders the Saitama Wild Knights still to come for the Canon Eagles, it means positive results are all the more necessary in Saturday’s encounter with the ninth-place Dynoboars and the sixth-place Toyota Verblitz the week after.

Fortunately for a team chasing a top-four berth, being able to add a 68-cap Springbok to the matchday squad is a handy addition.

Kriel vowed to recover as fast as possible after his operation, and he has now returned to have a major say in the outcome of his side’s season.

This is also a boost for South Africa, with a series with Ireland looming in July. Kriel will be fully fit by the time the Springboks host the world number twos.

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Canon Eagles XV
1. Changho Ahn
2. Shunta Nakamura
3. Ryosuke Iwaihara
4. Liakimatagi Moli
5. Matthew Philip
6. Kobus van Dyk
7. Naoto Shimada
8. Amanaki Leleimafi
9. Kouki Arai
10. Yu Tamura
11. Masayoshi Takezawa
12. Yusuke Kajimura (C)
13. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
14. Viliame Takayawa
15. Junpei Ogura

Replacements
16. Yusuke Niwai
17. Takato Okabe
18. Tatsuro Sugimoto
19. Mitchell Brown
20. Sione Halasili
21. Toshiki Amano
22. Jesse Kriel
23. Inoke Burua

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J
JW 9 minutes ago
England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

As has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.


Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.


That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.


You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).

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