Jesse Kriel: Springboks can still win Greatest Rivalry series
Springbok centre Jesse Kriel is convinced South Africa can still win the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series despite Saturday’s heavy defeat to the All Blacks, insisting the next three Tests will feel like knockout rugby as the Boks head to Cape Town needing three straight victories.
Kriel endured a disrupted evening at Ellis Park after being shifted from outside centre to the wing when Kurt-Lee Arendse failed his Head Injury Assessment early in the second half.
The positional reshuffle blunted one of the Springboks’ most influential backs, limiting Kriel to just three carries and two tackles as New Zealand kept him largely out of the contest.
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#OPINION: Blunt and Brainless – @rugby365com columnist @jon_cardinelli take a closer look at the Springboks’ performance against the All Blacks 👇#SouthAfrica #Springboks #NewZealand #AllBlacks #RSAvNZL https://t.co/JErkVxt9kg
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) August 23, 2026
He was also forced into an impossible cover tackle during the build-up to the All Blacks’ second try after scrambling across to defend the right touchline.
Despite the disappointing result, Kriel was quick to credit New Zealand for the way they executed their game plan.
“Of course, I think anything is possible in rugby,” Kriel said when asked if the Springboks could still win the series 3-1,” adding, “We’ve obviously been in situations like this before. We know that we weren’t as accurate as we wanted to be tonight.
“We also know that New Zealand played unbelievably well. They were very well prepared, and they came here tonight with a great plan.
“So, I think that’s the beauty about this series. We get another three chances and we’re really looking forward to those three chances.”
‘It feels like knockout rugby’
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With three Tests remaining, Kriel said one could compare the remainder of the series to a Rugby World Cup run through the play-offs.
“You could look at it like that,” he said.
“It’s obviously a massive series. We knew coming into this that it would feel like knockout rugby.”
The Springbok skipper said the team would immediately turn its attention to fixing the mistakes that cost them against the All Blacks.
“We’ll obviously watch the game, work through it and find solutions,” Kriel said.
“We’re a team that finds solutions. We’ll find solutions and we’ll be better next week.”
Kriel admitted the difference between the two sides came down to execution in key moments.
“The All Blacks were more clinical when they got their chances,” he said.
“At the highest level, with the two best teams in the world, that’s what happens. There’s a very small margin for error at this level.”
With the series shifting to Cape Town next weekend, Kriel believes the Springboks have every reason to believe they can respond, even if the margin for error has now disappeared.
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