Kriel 'accelerating' to the top

It is an accolade that will make many purists choke on their coffee, but young Jesse Kriel is being  likened to a South African great like Danie Gerber.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, addressing a media briefing after he named his team for the opening international of the year, said he believes Kriel can be one of the best outside centres that South Africa has produced.

Kriel is one of two uncapped players named in the matchday 23 to face a Worlds XV at Newlands on Saturday.

And, based on the Bok coach's admiration for the 21-year-old Bulls star, he indeed has the attributes that made Gerber the legend he became during his heyday in the 1980s.

"Jesse is an unbelievably exciting player," Meyer told the media briefing at the team hotel in Cape Town, adding: "I have always rated him.

"Two years ago, when he was still Under-20, I invited him to our [Springbok] camps, where he slotted in at centre. I first worked with him as a 19-year-old, where I did a lot of skill work with him and I always thought his best position was outside centre."

Meyer believed even at this early stage of his career he already adds a lot to the team.

However, it is his skills that will have many salivating over the future with this youngster in the Bok midfield.

"He has a great acceleration and brilliant feet," Meyer said, adding: "I am really excited to see [flyhalf] Handré [Pollard], [inside centre] Damian [de Allende] and him [Kriel] at No.13.

"There are a lot of youngsters there. Maybe [there is] not a lot of experience, but [they are] very exciting players.

"I am thinking of those guys, along with [Pat] Lambie and Jan [Serfontein], as the future.

"I can't wait to see them play. Yes, they will make mistakes, as they have never played together. However,  what they lack in experience, they will make up for with their youthful exuberance."

Meyer said the encounter with the World XV is the right game to give Kriel a run.

"I believe Jesse can go on to be one of the greats. He is one of the most talented players I have coached, but it is now up to him to take it onto the field and show he can play at the highest level."

Meyer said there is a chance he might give Kriel 10 to 15 minutes at fullback at the end of the fame.

"However, I should probably stick with him at centre for the next Test or two."

He said the youngster can help the Boks at wing as well.

"It is like a young Frans Steyn, where he can cover No.12, No.13, wing and fullback.

"I really have a good feeling about Jesse. I really believe he can go on to be one of the best outside centres that South Africa has produced.

"What I have seen in training is an acceleration that I haven't seen with a lot of players, especially the outside gap. I want my outside centre to be able to take the outside gap, which not a lot of guys can do.

"In terms of his speed he is there. The tough thing for him, Damian [de Allende] and Polly [Pollard] is that they haven't played together.

"They are facing very experienced back and will be tested on defence. In terms of attacking I know they will do well. On defence they will face a tough call.

"However, this is the right game to give them a go."

While some will frown upon Kriel selection at in the midfield, given that he has played fullback for the Bulls all season, he has played at outside centre often before and starred for the Junior Springboks in that position in four of their five matches in 2014.

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com