Jack of all trades David Kriel now a master for Jake White's Bulls in URC final against Leinster
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 3 hours ago
In some ways, David Kriel has been a Swiss Army knife for the Bulls over the last few years.
Having started out as a fullback for the Pretoria franchise, Kriel was then shifted to wing, and eventually inside centre.
This season, he has operated mainly at outside centre, and even been called upon to take over the goal-kicking at times.
His best effort off the tee was undoubtedly the two match-winning kicks against Benetton and Leinster.
Last October, Kriel banged over a touchline conversion after the hooter to secure the victory over Benetton in Treviso, and in March this year, he landed a penalty in the fifth minute of injury time – about 40 metres on the angle as well – to clinch a 21-20 triumph over Leinster at Loftus Versfeld.
Yet, the 26-year-old from Potchefstroom missed out on Springbok selection and the United Rugby Championship Elite XV, with Munster's Tom Farrell preferred at outside centre and Sharks giant André Esterhuizen at No 12.
Kriel will hope to prove once more that he should've been picked in that mythical line-up, as well as remind Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus of his qualities in Saturday's URC final against Leinster in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off).
' I don't know why he's not on the Dream Team. He's probably played every game and I've never taken him off, so he plays 80 minutes,' Bulls coach Jake White said about Kriel from the Irish capital this week.
'I am really surprised that he's never picked up by people on how important he is. He was a fullback as a youngster, he's played wing, he's played 13, he's played 12.
'He's kicked winning kicks for us to win URC games, Leinster and Benetton this year. He's one guy who's been with us since day one.
'I'm almost sure he's played the most minutes for our team in the last four years.
'So, you're right when you say it is incredible that he hasn't been tapped on the shoulder, either for national duty, which I'm sure will come, or people in and around the game don't see the importance he has to us.'
Kriel's versatility may see him being viewed as a jack of all trades, but he seems to have mastered them all too – and helping the Bulls win an elusive URC title against Leinster will crown a memorable campaign for him.
White highlighted what made him shift Kriel – who stands at 1.96m and weighs about 100kg – from the back-three to the midfield.
'When we played Leinster the very first time, we played them at Aviva Stadium, we lost 31-3 (in 2021).
'I remember standing and watching (Robbie) Henshaw warm-up. And then I watched (Ciaran) Frawley come out.
'And then I watched (Garry) Ringrose come out. And I thought, the only guy that I know that is similar to these three is David Kriel. And at that stage, he was playing wing.
'And then I decided that I'm going to move him closer to the ball.
'And it was based on the fact that that opening game, when I saw the body shape and the skill-sets of what Leinster had, he was the closest that I thought that I could get.
'And I'm so glad I did that because there's no doubt in these four years, you've seen the value of what he's like.
'I think David Kriel is quick enough to be an outside back, so it makes him dangerous inside.
'He's got incredible passing skills, and defensively, understands defence.
'I think the reason for that is a bit like Jean de Villiers to me, in that he understands how you want to attack, and therefore he can read the defence.
'Often people talk about someone's a very good tackler or there's a hell of a difference.
'I'm not saying he's not a good tackler, but I'm saying people assume defence means tackling.
'And I think the one thing he does, he tackles well, but he also understands what you want to do attacking-wise. So, therefore, his defensive understanding is, for me, up there like Jean de Villiers was.
'They know the way you stand and who the dangermen are in your set-up, and he'll actually read it before you can enact the play.'
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