Kriel concedes Springboks face three-match knockout run after heavy All Blacks defeat

Jesse Kriel admitted the Springboks face the equivalent of a World Cup knockout run after South Africa were beaten heavily by the All Blacks in the opening Test of the Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park, leaving them needing three consecutive victories to win the series.

The Springbok captain was candid in his assessment of what now lies ahead, drawing a direct comparison to the pressure of knockout rugby when asked whether the series had become a playoff scenario. “You could look at it like that,” Kriel said. “It’s obviously a massive series. We knew coming into this that it would feel like knockout rugby.”

Despite the scale of the defeat, Kriel insisted belief within the squad remains intact, pointing to South Africa’s experience of navigating high-pressure situations. “Of course, I think anything is possible in rugby,” he said when asked if a 3-1 series victory was still achievable. “We’ve obviously been in situations like this before. We know that we weren’t as accurate as we wanted to be tonight.”

Kriel was also generous in his praise of New Zealand, acknowledging that the All Blacks arrived at Ellis Park with a clear and effective game plan. “New Zealand played unbelievably well. They were very well prepared, and they came here tonight with a great plan.”

The Springbok skipper identified clinical finishing as the decisive factor on the night, pointing to the fine margins that separate the two sides at the top of the world game. “The All Blacks were more clinical when they got their chances,” he said. “At the highest level, with the two best teams in the world, that’s what happens. There’s a very small margin for error at this level.”

With the series now moving to Cape Town for next weekend’s second Test, Kriel said the squad’s immediate focus will be on reviewing the performance and identifying solutions. “We’ll obviously watch the game, work through it and find solutions,” he said. “We’re a team that finds solutions. We’ll find solutions and we’ll be better next week.”