I'm Still Improving, Kruis Warns Rivals

GEORGE Kruis admits being dropped by the Lions was hard to take but insists lessons from the three-Test series against New Zealand will stand both him and England in good stead.

- Neale Harvey

Saracens enforcer Kruis overcame multiple injury setbacks to earn a place on the tour and then start the first Test in Auckland. However, a lacklustre display in a 30-15 defeat saw him dumped by head coach Warren Gatland, who replaced him with clubmate Maro Itoje.

Kruis failed to make the bench in Tests two and three with Courtney Lawes selected instead, but the 27 year-old has quickly come to terms with his disappointment and is determined to win back his England place during the autumn internationals.

Kruis told The Rugby Paper: “When you under perform in a game when you know there’s a lot more in you, it’s very tough to take. But this is part and parcel of playing rugby, it’s how you bounce back that really counts.

“I’d like to think that I presented myself well in training. I certainly felt part of the overall effort for the second and third Tests in terms of helping the guys and I like to think I contributed.

“It was an incredible experience to be part of. I obviously didn’t play the way I wanted to in that first Test, but to get back from having three operations in a year and put myself in contention to start was something I can still feel massively proud about.”