Springbok centre Jesse Kriel is desperate to play for the national team in their final Rugby Championship match against Argentina next week.
With Lukhanyo Am wearing the No.13 jumper in the first two matches of the year, the 29-year-old Kriel joined coach Jacques Nienaber in a press conference in Pretoria on Thursday.
Gearing up for the Ellis Park clash, Kriel says: “The team to face Argentina will only be selected next week, but of course I’m desperate to play.
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“If you ask any player, they’ll tell you they want to play, but we understand that the selections are always based on what the team needs against specific opposition.”
Playing his club rugby in Japan, Kriel says of his time at the Canon Eagles: “It’s a foreign country with a different language and less distractions, so it allows you more time to work on your rugby. They also have an amazing work ethic over there and someone is always willing to help after training, so I think I’ve become a better player playing on that side.”
The Springboks trail New Zealand by four log points and will be hoping that Australia beat New Zealand in their final clash next week in order to stand a chance of catching the All Blacks at the top of the standings.