'Playing in Japan makes us better players' — Kriel defends overseas-based Springboks

BULLS coach Jake White, for some time, has been advocating that the Springbok players based overseas should be brought home to strengthen the local teams, but Bok centre Jesse Kriel disagrees.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

Kriel, who is based in Japan, says he has become a better player because of the cross-pollination of rugby acumen that occurs when players from all over the world are pooled together, as is the case in the Japanese teams.

Joining Kriel in the current Bok squad preparing for the Barbarians season-opener on June 28 are fellow Japan-based players in Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Malcolm Marx.

That is a hefty chunk of polished Springboks.

Kriel pointed to White himself as a good example of how overseas experience can benefit a coach (or player).

"If you look at a coach like Jake, he's also coached in Japan for a few years. He coached over in France (with Montpellier) and also in Australia (Brumbies), which has probably made him a better coach.