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'Those are the kind of guys that we look up to': Springboks driven by standards set by the Steyns says Kriel

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Springbok centre Jesse Kriel has a personal connection to the British & Irish Lions through his great grandfather, and will treasure the upcoming series in South Africa as a ‘once in a career’ opportunity to be apart of.

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“My great grandfather played for the Lions, so it’s quite a personal one for me, it’s special to be involved here,” Kriel told the media at a Springboks press conference.

Kriel remembers the last time the Lions were in South Africa while he was still in school and recalls some of the key moments in the second test as vivid memories.

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Jesse Kriel talks about the Steyns

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Jesse Kriel talks about the Steyns

“If you go back to 2009, I was still in school back then and have some great memories of that Jacque Fourie try and the Morne Steyn kicking the penalty goal over.

“It’s great to have a guy like him in the squad.”

Kriel says the squad is still learning from both of the Steyns, who were apart of the 2009 2-1 series victory over the touring Lions. Flyhalf Morné Steyn wrote his name in the history books when he kicked the penalty goal that clinched the series in 2009.

Francois Steyn and Morné Steyn have set the standards for the rest of the Bok squad ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series by leading by example.

“Look at guys like Morne Steyn and Frans Steyn, everyone will say you’d think that the experienced guy will always be talking and always doing this, but I think they are just two guys who just do the basics really well and they don’t make mistakes,” said Kriel.

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“Those are the kind of guys that we look up to, that we want to replicate. They are not guys who are always talking, but they set the example.

“They set the example at training and they set the standards.

“They make really good points when it is necessary.

“I think those are the kinds of standards they set and we as players need to follow those standards because it has obviously been effective for them in the past.”

Kriel said that every player in the Lions will be a ‘world-class’ opponent, but that the Springboks know what each of them will bring.

“If you look at the make-up of the British and Irish Lions team, it is the best players from each [participating] country, so every guy in a team like that is going to be world-class if not close to that.

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“We know what each of them will bring as individuals and I think we got to match that and go a step up. Our focus is on doing what we can do well to contribute to our system and what makes that system effective,” Kriel added.

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RedWarrior 27 minutes ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
G
GS 1 hour ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The key is realising this AB side is not what they are now but what they will be in 2025/26.


You can already see a Power bench forming, and I would highlight that people watch the AB XV game vs Munster and watch Fabian Holland - he, in the next 24 months, will be WC and bring some huge physicality to the team.


Then, aligned with Peter Lakai, probably at 7, another WC talent, the AB pack by 2026 will probably both be starting and on the bench - be rated as No 1 or 2 packs in the world.


Then, there is the usual WC talent around the backline, and the missing link is Mo'unga. Unlike in last year's WC, the coming forward pack for the ABs, is similar to the Bok pack, It will be packed full of power, and the key to this is a realitively young pack.


So I think we will lose to Ireland and France in the coming weeks, but watch out as this pack builds into - I mean, look at the tight five and loose forwards that are coming for the ABs - De Groot, Lomax, Williams, Tosi, Taylor, Ofa T, Samson T, Aumua, Patrick T, Barrett, Vai, Fabian H, Setiti, Lakai, Savea, Frizzell (understand they are attempting to get him and Mo'unga back), Blackadder, Papalii and bar Barrett, Savea, Patrick T, Taylor - pretty young in international terms.


Huge front row starting and on bench, Power locks and usual class in loose forwards - only missing ingredient is a WC 10 and with Mo'unga back probably in 2026, these ABs are trending in a very healthy direction.

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