Jesse Kriel says the Springboks have “immense respect” for Italy heading into the first Test at Loftus on Saturday.
Kriel will become the 67th Springbok Test captain having led the Boks to a big victory in an uncapped match against the Barbarians last week.
“It’s very special,” he said on Friday. “There have certainly been a few career highlights in the past, and this occasion is up there with those, but we have a big game tomorrow, and I’m very fortunate to have guys like Siya [Kolisi], Eben [Etzebeth], Handre [Pollard] and so many other leaders in the squad to assist me.
“The fact that they are my best friends makes it even better. Obviously, our focus will be on the job at hand, but I’m very proud, and it is a big occasion for me.”
Kriel stressed that the Azzurri, currently ranked 10th in the world and missing several first-choice players for this two-match series, will be no pushovers.
“It would be a massive mistake for people to write them off. They are a passionate nation and a good team, and we have immense respect for them. We had an intense week of preparation, and we are expecting a big battle.
“From our perspective, we want to get the official Test season off to a good start and lay a strong base for the season ahead. We also know what a good result does for the country, and that excites us a lot.”
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Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said Kriel’s appointment as captain was a natural decision.
“It started with the match against the Barbarians, and the way he led the team in that match made it an easy choice to hand him the captaincy.
“There are a few things we look for in a captain, and those include working hard and leading by example, and Jesse ticks both those boxes. He is one of the hardest workers in the team and one of the best outside centres in the world, and adding to that, he leads by example, so we are proud of his achievement.”
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Stick echoed Kriel’s sentiments about the strength of the Italian side.
“Their backline is always dangerous, as we saw with their clubs in the URC, and they have very skilful players, so we have to handle that tomorrow.
“They are also trying to build squad depth at the moment, so they are a dangerous unit. Adding to that, they are a well-organised team, and the way they balance their game between the forwards and backs makes them a tough opponent.
“One thing is for certain, if you give them space and time on attack, they can hurt you.”
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Stick also welcomed the Test debut of flanker Vincent Tshituka.
“For us, it’s not just about giving a player an opportunity, we also want to empower him,” he said. “Vincent has been working very hard along with the other players in the squad, and what many people forget is that he was first invited to a Springbok alignment camp in 2019, so we hope he has a good game.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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