Kruis aims to take control for rest of season
SARACENS enforcer George Kruis aims to end an “up and down” season by bagging a Premiership title and a seat on England’s plane to South Africa.
Kruis, 28, suffered the ignominy of being dropped by the Lions after the first Test defeat against New Zealand last summer, since when he has twice been in and out of England squads as well as enduring the trials of a turbulent Saracens campaign.
However, with a Premiership play-off place secured and a home semifinal now one win away, Kruis told The Rugby Paper: “I’d like to go to South Africa and while I’ve had a few disappointments this season, there’s plenty to get my teeth into.
“There’ve been some ups and downs with club and country and it’s always disappointing to lose big games, as Saracens did in that Champions Cup quarter-final at Leinster, but if you want to be a decent player you have to keep bouncing back.
“You get setbacks, whether it’s being left out by England, the Lions or tasting defeat, but you just have to keep putting your best foot forward, try to play as many games as you can and just enjoy your rugby and do the best for your team.”
While Saracens endured an eight-match losing run before Christmas and missed out on a Champions Cup semi-final for the first time since 2012, posting 108 points in recent games against Northampton and Bath suggests a fourth Premiership title is on.
Kruis added: “We’ve played some really good rugby, breaking teams down in the first-half and then capitalising in the second. It might take 45 minutes or 60 minutes but there’s a right time to pull the trigger and our generals have been doing that.
“We’re a good side that’s full of experience and it’s about ensuring we turn up each time and do what we know we’re capable of. We’ve only got the Premiership to play for and it gives us a real focus between now and the end of May.”
Meanwhile, Saracens forwards coach Ian Peel has refuted suggestions that Mako Vunipola is being overworked after the star prop featured in all four matches for Saracens after the Six Nations.
Peel said: “Mako’s flying around and looking so well in training. He’s in really good nick, is feeling good and we’re happy with where he is.
“It’s down to Mark McCall and our performance director Phil Morrow when he plays but all our players are monitored throughout the season.
“I’ve been at Saracens two seasons and no club manages their players better. I’ve been so impressed with how our guys are right on top of all that.”
England No.8 Billy Vunipola is set to return at London Irish this week and Michael Rhodes, Vincent Koch and Duncan Taylor are back from injury.