Sometimes, there is justice in this world – and it didn’t come a moment too soon for the Bulls yesterday as star centre David Kriel was cleared to face the Scarlets in tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship clash in Llanelli (8.35pm start).
The Bulls No 12’s red card in last week’s 29-19 victory over the Ospreys in Swansea seemed unjustified, but referee Eoghan Cross sent off Kriel for leading with his forearm into the throat of flyhalf Dan Edwards in the 49th minute.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White said afterwards that he hoped to have Kriel available for the Scarlets game, and the Pretoria side succeeded as the United Rugby Championship announced yesterday that the red card had been rescinded.
“The panel overseeing the disciplinary process – Roddy Dunlop KC (chair, Scotland), Donal Courtney and Gordon Black (both Ireland) – found that while an act of foul play had occurred and the player made contact with the neck area of the tackler, a combination of factors (including the player’s attempt at a hand-off to protect himself, the speed and height of the tackling player, and the low force of the contact in question) was such that the player had established, on balance of probability, that a red card should not have been issued. The card was thus rescinded,” the URC said in a statement.
Who doesn't love to see DK march over the try line 👀🤭 #ForeverBlue pic.twitter.com/dkAregleyQ
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 16, 2024
Kriel wrote on his Instagram account after the game that he would “like to apologise for the red card. Very disappointed, but I’ll learn from this”.
But now the 25-year-old utility back’s availability presents some intriguing selection possibilities for White, who will announce his team today.
It is understood that fullback Willie le Roux has been given some time off and returned home this week ahead of the Springbok November to the UK.
White confirmed at the weekend that Devon Williams will join the squad in Wales this week after his injury layoff, but he hasn’t played for a number of weeks, so it would be risky to start him straight away in Llanelli.
Kriel ran out in the No 15 jersey in the URC opener against Edinburgh at Loftus, and although he didn’t seem to enjoy it and made it clear subsequently that he prefers to operate in midfield, he could be asked to fill in again at fullback this week.
But if Williams doesn’t start either, the other option would be to shift Canan Moodie from outside centre to fullback, with Stedman Gans able to slot in at No 13 alongside Kriel.
The Bulls will be keen to stretch their unbeaten start to four tomorrow night, but it won’t be easy in what is expected to be wet and windy conditions in Llanelli.
The Scarlets will also hoped to have turned the corner last week, after two defeats and a draw, by beating Cardiff 25-19.
“We have to adapt to the weather, and how they want to play against us. It is likely to be a big kicking game as rain has been forecast,” the Bulls’ Springbok front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can pack down at hooker and prop, said from Wales yesterday.
“It is still a learning process for me. I still need to work hard on both to be a good hooker and prop. Prop-wise, scrummaging and being really involved, contact and mauling.
“At hooker, you need to scrum well, and lineout-throwing. That’s individual development that you have to keep working hard on, and understand the job on the weekend. Having a bit more composure is a big part of growing as a player.”