Maritzburg College factor could help Springboks as Jesse Kriel follows in Philip Nel's footsteps

Good omens don’t win rugby matches, especially when it is do-or-die showdowns between the Springboks and the All Blacks, but there was a smile on Jesse Kriel’s face when he was reminded that the last time the Boks won at Fortress Eden Park, in 1937, Maritzburg College old boy Philip Nel was the captain.

Kriel matriculated from the Pietermaritzburg school in 2012, and played many a game in front of the pavilion named after Nel at the famous Goldstone’s field.

“A former headmaster at College and some Old Boys have let me know,” Kriel smiled. “It is an interesting statistic.”

Kriel is captaining the Boks for the third time in a Test match after “warming up” as captain in the friendly against the Barbarians.

On Saturday, he leads the Bok despite the presence of regular captain Siya Kolisi at No 8.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has explained that Kriel was internally named as captain early in the week, when Jean-Luc du Preez was in the side at No 8 and Kolisi was to rest the knee that has been giving him grief, but a training ground injury suffered by Du Preez saw Kolisi drafted into the starting lineup.

Kolisi suggested to Erasmus that Kriel continue as skipper. Kriel said Kolisi’s gesture is a mark of the man.

“It just speaks volumes of the kind of leader Siya is. We all know that Siya is the captain of our team," said the outside centre.

“It’s all of us that kind of help and lead when we need to. I’ve got that role this weekend, and it’s something I take massive pride in, leading this team and doing my part. But, as I’ve said many times, there are so many leaders throughout this squad – not just the 23 guys playing tomorrow. I’m talking about the entire wider group; the coaches – there are leaders in every area.”