Springbok captain Kriel expects Kolbe, Arendse to dazzle at Loftus

JESSE Kriel says opposition defenders are not the only ones left confused when Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse get the ball.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The Springbok captain says he is also left scratching his head as the pair of pinballs ricochet around the field.

At outside centre, Kriel has the best seat in the house and often the final pass to the wingers comes from him.

“Sometimes it is very confusing,” Kriel smiled at his captain’s press conference ahead of today’s Test match against Italy in Pretoria.

“You give those guys the ball and you don’t know where they are going to go, which is a problem because you have to clear the ensuing breakdown. Often it is guesswork, but yes, it is wonderful to play with two guys of that calibre.

“And they are not the only ones. We have unbelievable talent. The thing about Cheslin and Kurt-Lee is that they are the most humble guys you will ever meet. They are salt of the earth guys willing to sacrifice for the team. That is why they are even more brilliant than what you see on the field.”

The Boks are expected to hammer an Italian side bereft of half a dozen of their (rested) top players, but this worries the captain.

“I think the rugby world has made a massive mistake by writing off Italy,” Kriel said.