The learning curve grew considerably steeper after South Africa were beaten in their opening pool game by underdogs Japan, a result that shook the sporting world and rocked Springbok rugby to the core.
Advertisement
The 32-year-old flanker has had a barely-believable journey to be involved in a World Cup semi-final at all, but that will provide little solace for him this evening.
“There are quite a few guys who will have their last outing in a Springbok jersey so we would definitely like to make that special, make that a good last game for the most of us”.
A review is underway and Clive Woodward, their World Cup winning manager was scathing at the weekend when critiquing the make-up of the panel assessing England’s performance.
So the question arises: Do you feel Heyneke Meyer’s tenure should end now and the Boks should move on to a new era, or do you feel Meyer has a group of emerging players who have the potential to be world beaters and SA Rugby should retain his services?
The conclusion of last Saturday’s match featured a memorable moment of sportsmanship when New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams consoled Kriel.
“I’ve been where you play for third and fourth, which is mentally very tough because it doesn’t mean anything for me”.
Where that leaves the coach, however, remains open to debate, with a reported contract extension to the next World Cup in 2019 as yet unsigned.
“But I have always said I am here to serve”. I really believe that this team can go places.
“I think it is not that far, it is inches”.
This is a man who has been in the job for just three years and had taken his side from having finished bottom of the Rugby Championship this season and from having suffered what is considered to be the biggest shock in its history, to coming within a kick of the ball of knocking the All Blacks, the reigning champions and world number one side, out of the competition.
“I want to thank all the people for their support, I am really sorry we let them down today”, he added after the 20-18 defeat at a rain-sodden Twickenham.
Before the Boks look to the future, there is the unappetising prospect of the third-place play-off on Friday night in Olympic Park.
“I can’t remember what he actually said”, recalled Kriel before adding: “He said ‘don’t worry it’s going to be okay and he just helped me up and that was nice of him”.
Advertisement
“You look at our second row pairing: two guys that are absolutely enormous with Eben Etzebeth and Lodewyk de Jager, two youngsters, although Eben’s got more than 40 caps”, Louw told AFP. “It’s like kissing your sister”, he said. I don’t know if that was my last game, I’ll see how the injury goes but it probably was.
