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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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