Bulls coach heaps praise on Kirsten

Cape Town - Bulls head coach Nollis Marais has hailed the impact made by his flank Jannes Kirsten in this year's Super Rugby tournament.

Kirsten made his debut for the Pretoria outfit in their season opener against the Stormers in Cape Town and although the Bulls lost that clash, the 22-year-old has subsequently delivered several impressive performances.

In the return match against the men from the Cape in Pretoria at the weekend - which the Bulls won 17-13 - Kirsten was named man-of-the-match and Marais sang his praises afterwards.

"I don't think Jannes realises just how good he is," Marais told Times Live.

Kirsten himself admitted that he has come on in leaps and bounds since the start of the Bulls' campaign.

"When I was chosen I was a bit wide-eyed, thinking I would be playing against big Boks. All that pressure motivated me to lift my game," he said.