Jesse Kriel insists Springboks are ‘definitely’ better than last year

Without hesitation, centre Jesse Kriel insisted on Monday that the Springboks are a better team now than when they won their second consecutive Rugby World Cup crown last October with a 12-11 win over the All Blacks.

The world champion Springboks will go head-to-head with the All Blacks in an enthralling Rugby Championship clash this weekend for the first time since that epic battle for the sport's ultimate prize at Stade de France.

New Zealand have won three of the last four meetings between the two international rugby heavyweights at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park, but the hosts will go into Saturday’s Test as favourites following a strong start to The Rugby Championship.

After winning the Rugby World Cup for a record fourth time in men’s rugby history, the Springboks recovered to beat Ireland in one of two Tests in July before dominating the Wallabies in two Tests in Australia earlier this month.

South Africa hadn’t won at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in more than a decade before they put an end to that streak with a 33-7 demolition of Australia. Then, they backed that up with a 30-12 win over the same foe a week later at Optus Stadium in Perth.

As rugby fans around the world continue to count down the days until this weekend’s Rugby World Cup Final rematch between the Springboks and All Blacks, Kriel was clear the Springboks are a different team now for all the right reasons.

“I believe so,” Kriel told reporters at the team’s hotel. “If you’re not better now than you were last year then you’ve got a bit of a problem.

“The big thing for us is obviously we want to stay ahead of the curve, keep working on our game, keep working on our individual skillsets to contribute in order for us to get better.

“But I definitely believe that we are a better team than we were last year.”

Kriel was solid for the Springboks during their run to World Cup glory last year in France. The 30-year-old from Cape Town made an appearance in every match, which included a start at outside centre in the thrilling one-point win over the All Blacks in the Final.

The midfielder has been used as the Springboks’ first-choice option at outside centre with coach Rassie Erasmus naming the two-time World Cup champion in the starting side four times already in 2024.

Kriel has established a solid, reliable and consistent midfield combination with Damian de Allende and it seems more likely than not that the pair will take the field together this weekend at the world-famous rugby venue, Ellis Park.

“Any opportunity that you get to pull a Springbok jersey over your head is a massive one and something that I’ll never take lightly,” Kriel said.

“It’s the biggest privilege to wear that jersey and if I’m privileged enough to get another opportunity this weekend I’ll give it everything in my power and give everything that I have for South Africa.

“That never changes and it would be a massive opportunity if I do get the chance.”

The Springboks' team to take on the All Blacks in the first of two Test matches will be announced on Tuesday.