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BOK CAPTAIN: New skipper Jesse is using Siya and Eben as leadership role models

rugby27 June 2025 12:00
By:Gavin Rich
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Jesse Kriel © Gallo Images

Jesse Kriel admits that he was a little nervous when he was first told he’d be captaining the Springboks for the first time, but has been given confidence by the leadership figures he will have around him.

The outside centre will lead the Boks as they play the Barbarians for the Qatar Cup at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday following regular captain Siya Kolisi’s injury enforced withdrawal from the team.

According to assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, the decision to rest Kolisi as a precautionary measure was taken late in the week.

“We tried to give Siya the best opportunity to recover from a stiff neck that has been niggling him, but in the end we decided there was no need to take any risks and it made it easier for us that we had someone like Jesse ready to step in and lead the team,” said Stick.

“A player has to be 100 per cent wherever we play and whoever we play against, but we gave Siya some time to be ready and in the end we had to make a decision. We have full confidence in Jesse as a captain as he has always been there as one of the leadership figures within the team.”

Kriel has captained in Japan and is no stranger to the role but this will be the first time he will be doing it at international level.

“Excited and honoured to be captaining my country but not much changes as we all have leadership roles within the team and every player is encouraged to take ownership in his role. It sets us up to be developed as leaders,” said Kriel on the eve of the match.

“Whether we have 100 caps to our name or are just starting out, we are all leaders in our own way and that setup has helped me to develop. We have had very strong leaders at the helm at the Boks in the form of Siya and Eben (Etzebeth) and I am fortunate to have them to learn from and to be able to follow the example they have set.

“I am excited about the challenge, and was nervous when I was first told that I would be captaining on Saturday, but ultimately not much really changes,” he added.

Kriel leading the Boks would not have seemed likely a few years ago when he was on the outside of the team looking in.

He has had his fair share of down moments in his career among the highs, and one of those was when he was forced to fly home with an injury he sustained early in the 2019 World Cup.

“That is the beauty of rugby, it is not always plain sailing, and the downs are what make the ups so enjoyable,” said the new Bok captain.

“Those down moments and getting out of them grows you as an individual and a person. It is those down times that make the good times so enjoyable and enable you to learn so much about yourself and makes winning the Rugby World Cup so special. Hopefully there are many more good times to look forward to in the future.”

Kriel said he would not be a man of many words as captain.

“I don’t think I am the biggest talker, although obviously I am very vocal on defence, which is my specific pressure point in the team. I will look to some of the experienced guys around me in the team.

“For instance, there is a guy like Malcolm (Marx) who could easily have led the team, and also the man alongside me, Damain de Allende, who could also have been captain and is very influential. Cheslin (Kolbe) is also a leader. There are lots of strong leaders throughout the team and it makes it easier to execute our plan.”

Kriel reiterated what the coaches said earlier in the week about this game being treated as a test match by the team even though it doesn’t hold test status.

“We are approaching it as a test match and it is the start of a massive season for us. This a very important game against a team with star players in it and which has a lot of X-factor in it,” said Kriel.

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