Jesse Kriel gifted easiest finish in history to end five-year try drought
A player that has not scored a try for South Africa in five years can only dream of being gifted an opportunity like Jesse Kriel was against Wales on Saturday at the Principality Stadium.
With the Springboks already leading 19-9 in the first half in Cardiff, centre Damian de Allende drilled a grubber deep into Wales’ 22 with Cheslin Kolbe chasing. Welsh outside centre Mason Grady was able to gather the ball just in front of his line, only for Kolbe to grab him and hurl him over the line. Then he produced something very strange indeed.
Grady then proceeded to just throw the ball in the air, with Kriel just standing there to catch the ball and score. If rugby had its equivalent of an own goal, this was it.
It is clear to see that Grady was trying to offload the ball to avoid grounding it and conceding a five metre try. The only trouble was that there was not even anyone to pass to. Very strange, take a look:
Jesse Kriel !!! 🔥
Welcome To The Party. Kolbe with an immense bit of defense.#WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/XveQhJzLov
— Darren (@SaffasRugby) August 19, 2023
Wales XV
15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 85 caps)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 57 caps)
13. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
12. Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 8 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 109 caps)
9. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
1. Corey Domachowski ( Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap)
2. Elliot Dee (Dragons – 42 caps
3. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap)
4. Ben Carter (Dragons – 10 caps)
5. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 24 caps)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons – 70 caps)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 10 caps) captain
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 38 caps)
Replacements
16. Sam Parry (Ospreys – 6 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 43 caps)
18. Henry Thomas (Montpellier – 1 cap)
19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped / heb gap)
20. Taine Basham (Dragons – 12 caps)
21. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 47 caps)
22. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby –
Springboks XV
15 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 86 caps, 65 pts (13T)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 10 pts (2T)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 61 caps, 60 pts (12T)
12 – Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights) – 72 caps, 50 pts (10T)
11 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 25 caps, 81 pts (12T, 3C, 5P)
10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 45 pts (1T, 11C, 6P)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 12 pts (2T, 1C)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1T)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 69 caps, 30 pts (6T)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain – Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 75 caps, 45 pts (9T)
5 – RG Snyman (Munster) – 26 caps, 5 pts (1T)
4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 2 caps, 0 pts (Ireland 5 caps)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 61 caps, 5 pts (1T)
2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 61 caps, 75 pts (15T)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (Ulster) – 74 caps, 10 pts (T)
Replacements
16 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 60 caps, 60 pts (12T)
17 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 pts
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 45 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 65 caps, 15 pts (3T)
20 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 0 pts
21 – Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby) – 68 caps, 15 pts (3T)
22 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 4 caps, 0 pts
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 31 caps, 36 pts 36 (2T, 4C, 4P, 2D)
