Kruis: I can win back my England place
GEORGE Kruis is convinced his injury nightmares and disappointing Lions tour are firmly behind him, and that he can regain his England spot.
The Saracens lock also believes the club have a strong enough squad to emulate Toulon and be crowned European champions for a third successive time.
Mark McCall’s men start their new campaign at Premiership rivals Northampton Saints today, and Kruis hopes to use his club’s latest exciting European crusade to show Eddie Jones he should be back leading the lineout this autumn.
It’s ten long, frustrating months since Kruis, 27, last wore the white jersey against Australia. During that time he has sampled the agony and ecstasy of top rugby which “tested” him mentally and physically.
The lows points of operations on an ankle, cheekbone and broken fibula plus missing out on the Six Nations were followed by the highs of winning a second Champions Cup winners medal and then a Lions call-up.
But on the tour of New Zealand he was dropped by Warren Gatland after the opening Test loss. Joe Launchbury then grabbed his chance to shine in the the second row in the triumphant summer Test series in Argentina.
But Kruis insists the future looks bright for both club and country, claiming: “If I play well I’d back my ability to get an England place. It’s just about staying injury free and getting a run of games together that I can be proud of.
“Eddie is really good at communicating and player management. It’s been a back and forth process but that’s the way it is.
“The injuries can definitely test your patience and resolve when when they start backing up.
“The last year has been tough for me. I’ve had three operations which really knocked me back. I like to think I’ve always put in my best to get back playing as soon as I possibly can.
“I had a good pre-season build-up after getting the Lions out of my system. There was a slight setback in the Saints game but hopefully I’m over that.
“I’ve had three 80-minute games, and I feel my fitness is just coming back now as it should be. I’m just enjoying playing rugby again. To have three operations last year and be out for pretty much a year and a bit was demoralising.
“All you want to do as a rugby player is to play, and not just train and watch games.
“But I’ve become a stronger person and hopefully a better player for all I’ve been through. A Lions tour adds to your experience. Playing with that quality of player and encountering different scenarios was useful.”
Sarries start favourites to make it three European titles on the bounce and Kruis insists the confidence is high having started the new Premiership season strongly.
And Kruis is relishing the prospect of going headto-head with England teammate Courtney Lawes.
He said: “Courtney has had such an unbelievably good career from such a young age. He will be the first to admit you can lose your way a bit but he’s been consistent for so long now.
“He’s found that extra bit of bite, especially under Eddie, and he’s playing the best rugby I’ve ever seen him play. He’s a real threat, especially in attack.
“We’ve had a decent start to the season and been really good in patches as well as not so good. The aim is to always play a full 80 minutes and going by the training session we’ve just had the boys are on it.
“Our defence is pretty solid but perhaps we’ve been trying too hard in attack. As a result we’ve lost our shape a bit, over run things and there have been a few handling errors, too. As long as the effort is there as a group, that’s what we are looking for.
“The lads who have come in are unbelievably eager to jump on the bandwagon and as a player who’s been here for quite a while now, it’s great to see that attitude and how excited they are. It keeps us all going.
“Someone like Calum Clark has been absolutely buzzing with energy to play this weekend.”