{"id":23833,"date":"2025-08-19T15:30:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=23833"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:00:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:00:35","slug":"jesse-kriel-urges-boks-leaders-to-step-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/jesse-kriel-urges-boks-leaders-to-step-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Stand-In Captain Jesse Kriel Urges Boks Leaders to Step Up vs Wallabies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Springboks\u2019 Rugby Championship campaign got off to a nightmare start at Ellis Park, where they were stunned 38-22 by the Wallabies in a contest that shifted dramatically after halftime. Having raced into a commanding 22-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, the Boks appeared in full control. By the break, they still held a 22-5 advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, what followed was a collapse few could have predicted. Australia piled on 38 unanswered points in the second half, running in five tries to snatch an emphatic bonus-point victory on the Highveld. For the Boks, it was not just a defeat\u2014it was a humbling reminder of the fine margins in Test rugby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kriel-accepts-responsibility\">Kriel Accepts Responsibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mapimpi-returns-to-boks-squad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Siya Kolisi<\/a> sidelined, Jesse Kriel will captain the Springboks this Saturday in Cape Town for the return clash against the Wallabies. The veteran centre admitted that senior players, himself included, failed to assert enough control during the Ellis Park debacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cAs one of the more experienced players, I could have handled things better,\u201d Kriel reflected. \u201cWe needed more composure and leadership in that period. It\u2019s never about just one guy making a mistake; leaders like myself should have stepped up and made the right calls when the pressure mounted.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Kriel stressed that leadership cannot only surface in post-match reflection. \u201cIt\u2019s too late to talk about what we should have done once the game is over. During the match, leaders need to make the tough calls and keep the team on track.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1816249215\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-searching-for-answers-to-second-half-slump\">Searching for Answers to Second-Half Slump<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The second-half collapse has raised difficult questions about the Boks\u2019 energy levels and decision-making. Known for their bench impact, the famed \u201cbomb squad\u201d, the Springboks looked flat and uninspired after halftime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t put my finger on why we were so flat,\u201d Kriel admitted. \u201cThere were a few momentum-shifting moments that went against us, and we didn\u2019t react well enough. At this level, every mistake gets punished, and unfortunately, we allowed Australia to turn our errors into points.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Australia\u2019s clinical finishing caught the Boks off-guard. \u201cYou have to credit them,\u201d Kriel said. \u201cThey were sharp and full of energy. That second half was one of the best I\u2019ve seen them play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-leaders-expected-to-respond-in-cape-town\">Leaders Expected to Respond in Cape Town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kriel\u2019s call for accountability will resonate as the Boks prepare for Saturday\u2019s second Test at Cape Town Stadium. The Springboks are desperate to avoid slipping to back-to-back defeats, which would hand the Wallabies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/rugby-championship-2025-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a rare series<\/a> triumph on South African soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Kriel, it comes down to leadership under pressure. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about one individual; it\u2019s about the group of leaders stepping forward,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to show composure, make smarter decisions, and ensure we don\u2019t lose momentum when things go against us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2167127353\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wallabies-eyeing-another-statement-win\">Wallabies Eyeing Another Statement Win<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Australia, buoyed by their dramatic comeback, will travel to Cape Town full of belief. Their coach has already spoken about doubling down on their efforts, and their squad will be confident after exposing cracks in the Bok structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Boks, meanwhile, must quickly address their failings. Energy, focus, and leadership will all be under the spotlight. Supporters will expect a fired-up response in Cape Town, and with Kriel at the helm, the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the senior players to deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-boks-determined-to-regain-pride\">Boks Determined to Regain Pride<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/sport\/rugby\/team-leaders-come-through-kriel-aussie-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ellis Park defeat<\/a> was a bruising reality check, but the Springboks now have a chance to restore pride. Kriel\u2019s words underline the urgency for leaders to take control when it matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A response is not just expected; it is demanded. As Cape Town prepares to host the second Test, the Boks know that nothing short of a disciplined, ruthless performance will be enough to silence the doubts raised by their Ellis Park collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/springboks-lose-world-no-1-ranking-as-erasmus-takes-the-heat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Springboks Lose World No.1 Ranking as Erasmus Takes the Heat<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Springboks\u2019 Rugby Championship campaign got off to a nightmare start at Ellis Park, where they were stunned 38-22 by the Wallabies in a contest that shifted dramatically after halftime. Having raced into a commanding 22-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, the Boks appeared in full control. By the break, they still held a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":23838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"The Springboks\u2019 Rugby Championship campaign got off to a nightmare start at Ellis Park, where they were stunned 38-22 by the Wallabies in a contest that...","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,64],"tags":[3174,1341,415,873],"class_list":{"0":"post-23833","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-sports-news","9":"tag-rugby-championship","10":"tag-rugby-news","11":"tag-sa-rugby","12":"tag-springboks"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23833"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23841,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23833\/revisions\/23841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}