Unpopular opinion: Springboks may need to back Kriel for RWC opener

The Springboks will announce their 33-man World Cup squad on Tuesday before heading into two final warm-up games against Wales in Cardiff on 19 August and New Zealand at Twickenham on 25 August.

There are unlikely to be too many surprises when the Springboks settle on their final World Cup group, while the starting XV for the big matches in France does seem pretty cut and dried.

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However, an interesting selection dilemma has unexpected emerged in the midfield.

At outside centre, a major concern arose this past weekend when Lukhanyo Am was prematurely forced from the field with what seemed to be a problematic leg injury.

It came a time when Am has failed to reach his usual consistent world-class form so far in 2023, and there is a chance that the injury could rule him out of the two remaining warm-up games as a possible precaution.

On Saturday, Kriel replaced Am and produced another impressive cameo as the veteran centre continued to do a lot of the unheralded hard yards – particularly on defence.

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For whatever reason, Kriel just seems to be one of those Springbok players that many fans love to hate, but in his form so far in 2023 has largely been beyond reproach.

It’s with all this in mind that the Springboks may need to back Kriel in the No 13 jersey in the World Cup opener against Scotland, rather than go into it with an undercooked Am.

A week later against Romania, it would then be the perfect opportunity to allow Am to return to the starting lineup and hopefully get a full 80 minutes under the belt before the all-important battle against Ireland in the third pool game.

*Would this make sense, or is it madness? Let us know by clicking on the ‘add comment’ button at the end of this article

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RWC FIXTURES:

Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final

WATCH | HIGHLIGHTS: Springboks v Argentina in Buenos Aires

WHAT THE SPRINGBOKS’ SQUAD COULD BE

Forwards (18)

Props: Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane

Hookers: Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Joseph Dweba

Locks: Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn

Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert, Duane Vermeulen

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Backs (15)

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach

Flyhalves: Handre Pollard, Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok

Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen

Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Makazole Mapimpi

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