A more rounded Kriel just loves learning new things every day under Mitchell

IT WAS not that long ago that Springbok and Bulls centre Jesse Kriel relied purely on talent and instinct.

That would have been clear for all to see in his maiden Super Rugby season for the Bulls three years ago, which was further highlighted by his Test debut against the Wallabies where Kriel (pictured) scored a brilliant individual try.

However, in the aftermath of his breakthrough season Kriel has struggled to tap into that talent and instinct, often hindered by being being shifted between fullback and centre, and even wing, or being left to his own devices in varying structured game-plans at the Bulls and Springboks.

At the same time, though, Kriel also experienced the growing pains that most young rugby stars go through but he seemingly took longer than most to shake off indifferent form. But this year Kriel is a different player and while that talent and instinct is still very much part of his game, he has become a better player.

Kriel has already scored four tries this season but his biggest contribution has been his selflessness in making sure that his teammates on his outside, and at times his inside, are better placed to score tries.

“When I go and look at a game on a Sunday, I look more at unseen efforts and how I worked off the ball. Those are more important to me than linebreaks and scoring. That doesn’t really get me excited. That is another thing that Mitch (coach John Mitchell) has been really good on – unseen efforts and the work you do off the ball – those dummy lines you run that open space for other players, serving other players early and serving, getting the ball into Warrick’s (Gelant) hands early. Allowing him to make magic, getting the ball into the wings’ hands and getting them to work their magic. That is the kind of satisfaction I have been getting, serving others early and getting other guys, linking them and getting into space,” said Kriel.

Much of Kriel’s rebirth has been largely due to his willingness to learn and find enjoyment in the game but part of it has been the arrival of former All Blacks coach Mitchell at Loftus Versfeld.

“I think he has changed the whole mindset and I don’t think it was a case that the guys didn’t have a skillset here. It was more a mindset, and if you want to call it – freedom that he has given the guys. Mitch’s whole view on things is that structure gives you freedom and we’ve got structures in place that are really giving the players freedom and giving us much more time and space on the ball. We’re serving the system and serving each other. That is where we are finding enjoyment on the field,” Kriel said.

And while Kriel will be the first one to admit that his form had taken a slump in the last two years, he also makes a compelling argument of how playing to a particular structure and fulfilling certain roles got in the way of players’ talents.

“At that time, that was what was expected from the team. That was what our roles in the team were, so we were just fulfilling roles and doing our jobs. Now we have different roles and different jobs to fill and we are doing that. The game evolves and you are expected to do different things. So I suppose, ja, that is the kinda feeling behind it. If you look at Damian (de Allende) now, you would say he is a completely different type of player, but he is just doing the job and doing an amazing job. He is having a great season.

“Obviously in rugby it is nice to see how Mitch has a different outlook on it. The great thing is that we as players are leaving Loftus every day having being stimulated and having learnt a lot every single day.”