Kruger: Big Vic’s tuned me

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Springbok captain Jean de Villiers and centre partner Frans Steyn listen intently during practice in Durban this week. De Villiers and Steyn will face a tough test against England duo Brad Barrit and Manu Tuilagi at Kings Park tomorrow.

Sapa and

Mike Greenaway

DURBAN: Rookie lock Juandré Kruger insists that he is not daunted by the sizeable task that awaits him when he makes his Springbok debut against England at Kings Park tomorrow.

The Bulls forward was named by new coach Heyneke Meyer in his maiden Test starting XV, along with two other uncapped players – Stormers lock Eben Etzebeth and Sharks flank Marcell Coetzee.

It is a rare occasion that any South African team would field two new faces in the second row, with the situation having come about following the retirement of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. Matfield has retired from the game, while Botha now plays his rugby in France.

Kruger and Etzebeth now face the difficult task of filling those boots, but Kruger is confident they can step up to the plate. “The most important thing is preparation, and we’ve had a great week building up to this first match,” the 26-year-old said.

“There’s been a lot of intensity, a lot of hunger from the guys. The drills have been excellent, and the systems have all been similar to that of the past. I’ve got a huge responsibility in the lineouts, but in the same way, all those around me also have a responsibility of their own.”

Kruger started his career with Western Province before moving to the Bulls and then on to Northampton in England for two seasons. After returning to the Bulls in 2010, he had to wait until this year for a Super Rugby debut, with last season spent in the shadow of Botha and Matfield.

He admits that his tutelage under the ex-Bulls skipper was invaluable. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Victor, he’s been a legend of the game,” Kruger said.

“He’s played a massive role in developing me as a player, the way I’m thinking and analysing the opposition. So I’ll always be thankful for the work he’s put in and his willingness to share.”

Asked whether his partnership with Etzebeth had the makings of a Botha-Matfield one, Kruger quickly played down any such ideas. “I think the main focus is on this weekend and not looking too far ahead,” he said. “They’ve been great players. It’s all in coach Heyneke’s hand to decide who will be his locks.”

He also praised Etzebeth’s quick rise in South African rugby after the 20-year-old moved swiftly from university rugby last year to the world stage inside 12 months. “He’s proved himself in Super Rugby. He definitely deserves his chance,” Kruger added. “We played against each other twice this season, and he’s been exceptional in his play.”

It is a must-win for the Boks in their first match after the 2011 World Cup watershed. They have a new coach, a new captain and just six players who started against Australia in the quarter-final in Wellington are starting tomorrow – Jannie du Plessis and Pierre Spies in the pack and, in the backline, Morné Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.

The England team has been similarly revamped, although where elder Springbok statesmen quietly moved on, new England coach Stuart Lancaster cut loose the pop stars that infamously cavorted about Queenstown in the New Zealand Alps.

Where Lancaster has stolen a march on Meyer is that he started afresh in the Six Nations in January and after a shaky start, his new recruits rebounded to finish second, including wins over Ireland and France.

“The last seven wins (over England) are not going to help us tomorrow,” grinned Meyer. “Statistics are nice for the supporters and media to look at, but they will be of no use to us come kickoff.

“What I can say about England is that they showed a lot of mental toughness in the Six Nations because they also had a new coach and not a lot of time to prepare. They got stronger as the competition went on.

“To beat France away from home is not easy, and they won three away games. They’ll be a confident team. They’ve played six games as a new team, but this will be our first. But what counts in our favour is that this is South African soil, and every player in the green and gold will give his all.”