Sawt Falasteen - Kriel 'excited' to skipper Boks after Kolisi withdrawal

Kriel, 31, made his debut for South Africa in 2015 and has played in 79 Tests, featuring in the Springboks' 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs.

"I'm excited and honoured," said the Yokohama centre before admitting to a touch of anxiety.

"Although I was a little nervous at one stage, I'm keen to go out there and lead the team.

"One of the big aspects of our team is that everyone takes ownership in their areas on the game, so this match won't be any different for me on Saturday.

"Fortunately, we have a lot of leaders in guys like Lood (de Jager), Malcolm (Marx), Damian (de Allende), Cheslin (Kolbe), and Kurt-Lee (Arendse), so having them in the team will make my job easier."

Saturday's match is a non-cap game against a Barbarians side, renowned for its running ethos, plucked largely from France's Top 14.

Kriel insisted, however, that they were taking the exhibition game as seriously as any international.

"We are certainly approaching this match as a Test and we have no doubt it will set the tone for the season ahead," he said.

Bulls flanker Marco van Staden has been drafted into the starting back row as a replacement for Kolisi for Saturday's meeting in Cape Town and will partner up with Vincent Tshituka and Jean-Luc du Preez.

Kolisi's injury was described as a "niggle" in SA Rugby's press statement and the two-time World Cup winning captain will hope to be back for the two-Test series against Italy, which starts in Pretoria on July 5.

The Springboks have a further match against Georgia in July before the opening match of the Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg on August 16.

R.Shaban--SF-PST