Cape Town – Already rewarded with some form of national recognition recently, Jesse Kriel can use the Bulls’ overseas tour to press particularly hard for the Springbok fullback role this season.
He has one advantage, at least for a couple more weeks, over Bok incumbent No 15 Willie le Roux: he will be in the heat of key Super Rugby action whilst Le Roux remains sidelined for the Cheetahs as he gradually recuperates from an ankle problem.
The renowned, Stellenbosch-born playmaker was probably overplayed a little by his franchise (not exactly blessed with a huge arsenal of X-factor players) earlier in the season, and seemed to be visibly labouring with the injury even before it forced him out in mid-April.