Watch: Springbok Jesse Kriel stars in losing effort with two stunning individual tries
Springboks utility back Jesse Kriel scored a double in the latest round of Japan Rugby League One action, but couldn't prevent his Yokohama Canon Eagles falling to a heavy defeat to the Tokyo Bay Shining Arcs.
The Shining Arcs racked up 50 points as former Wallabies pivot Bernard Foley shone by having a hand in a number of tries on the afternoon.
Kriel had to watch his Springboks teammate Malcolm Marx get in on the try-scoring action again after scoring a hat-trick last week.
However, it was Kriel who came up with the most impressive tries of the game in a losing side, stunning Tokyo Bay with two long-range individual efforts.
His first came in the 12th minute when he received a loose pass on the bounce with not much on offer. He cut back through five or six Shining Arcs defenders to score from over 40 metres out. Incredibly, he went untouched weaving through the traffic.
His second try was the final score of the game, and although the match was already lost, Kriel did not show any less enthusiasm.
With Canon running it out of their own 22, Australian fullback Michael Bond found a hole after receiving an offload in contact. Linking up with his Springbok winger 30 metres from his own goal line, Kriel put in the play of the game.
Kicking in behind the fullback around halfway, the ball stayed inbounds along the left touchline and managed to sit up on the five-metre line just as Kriel raced by.
The perfect bounce gave the 27-year-old his brace with a 70-metre solo effort to go with his outstanding first try.
Yokohama Canon Eagles had been flying hot in the first month of action in the new league, winning their first two matches. The loss to Tokyo Bay was their second of the season, leaving the Eagles sixth on the ladder in Division 1 with a 3-2 record.
Tokyo Bay moved into second place on the ladder with the big win, just behind league leaders Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath who are the only undefeated team.
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Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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