Teary-eyed Jaco Kriel talks about final game for the Lions

Now retired Lions flank Jaco Kriel says he had to fight back tears on the way to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, knowing the match against Italian side Zebre was his last.

After a brilliant career, that included him playing for the Springboks on 11 occasions and also captaining the Lions, Kriel has opted to call it quits at the age of 33.

Several injuries, particularly in the last few years, no doubt played a part in his decision.

‘The last everything’

But, Kriel went out with a bang on Saturday, as he scored a try and helped the Lions finish their URC campaign on a high, with a 50-35 win against Zebre.

In all, 13 tries were scored in the match, eight by the Lions and five by the visitors.

Kriel said his emotions started playing up on the way to the stadium in Pretoria.

“It almost felt unreal. On the way to Loftus in the bus, I could feel the tears,” said Kriel.

“I realised it was the last time I’d be making a bus trip with the team, the last time I’d have a team meeting … the last everything.

“But, I knew I had to get those emotions out the way and under control. The 80 minutes that lay ahead was about simply going through the processes.”

Back-to-back 80-minutes

About the game itself, Kriel said he couldn’t believe he’d actually lasted the full 80 minutes, as he did the week before against Leinster in Joburg.

“It was tough, and I started cramping at end,” said the flanker.

“I don’t know when last I played back to back 80s. It just shows I can still go all the way.”

Kriel added: “The first 40 minutes went by quite quickly, and then after half time, Andries Coetzee, my best friend, told me I had 40 minutes to go, and to give it my all, and to go for it. But during the game I didn’t think about it (being my last game).

Attack and defence

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen said that while it was nice to score 50 points and win at the end of the campaign, not making the playoffs hurt and that the team would have to close the gap between scoring tries and conceding as often as they have in the 2022/23 campaign.

“It’s not the way we wanted to finish, we wanted to be lot more clinical,” said Van Rooyen.

“Ninth on the log … a lot of should’ve and could’ve …last week as well (when the Lions gave up a 15-point lead towards the end of the match against Leinster to lose). We could be in the playoffs.

“We scored some unbelievable tries (against Zebre), but also let in soft ones and it’s this gap that we need to close ahead of next season.”