Kriel: Bulls aren’t stupid

David Kriel insists the Vodacom Bulls are a smart team despite being “caught napping” at times by Leinster at Loftus.

The versatile back nailed an 85th-minute penalty goal to snatch a 21-20 win against the previously unbeaten Vodacom URC log-leaders on Saturday.

The hosts had trailed 17-6 at one stage in the second half before their forwards took charge, winning several scrum penalties, the last of which enabled Kriel to raise the roof.

While pleased to avoid a fourth home loss this season, coach Jake White was unhappy with his team’s indiscipline, and winger Sebastian de Klerk’s 75th-minute red card in particular.

“We need to be more smart,” White said at the post-match press conference. “We can’t be stupid and think that we are going to get to the backend of the competition and win it if we don’t make better decisions in those situations.

“It’s stupid things, stupid – unbelievably stupid. New Zealanders talk about game smartness, and I think that is the bottom line.”

MORE: Bulls can’t be stupid – Jake

When asked about his coach’s comments on Tuesday, Kriel told the media: “I don’t think it’s stupidity. I think we just sometimes get caught off-guard, especially against a team like Leinster who thrive off quick ball. Sometimes they just catch us napping and then we concede some penalties.

“But I don’t think we’re stupid as a team or are not smart.”

Kriel’s match-winning penalty came minutes after his attempted conversion of Johan Grobbelaar’s try which came off the right-hand upright.

That miss prompted him to “keep it simple” when the game was up for grabs.

“Sometimes I tend to overthink the kick and when it’s more of a pressure situation, I focus on just going through my routine,” he said. “I want to apply that to all my kicks.

“I was really nervous when I placed my tee,” Kriel admitted. “Devon [Williams] actually laughed at me when he saw my hand shaking as I put it down. But as soon as I stood up and stepped back, I got into a relaxed mode and, like I said, I didn’t overthink the kick.”

ALSO: What Bulls hero told himself before kick

The 26-year-old was one of 17 Bulls players to attend the recent Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town, and he said it had been a good experience.

“It was something very new, but something I enjoyed very much,” Kriel said. “It’s a very high-performance environment, but nothing different to what we have here at the Bulls. So I was just super happy and grateful to be there. Just to learn from all the coaches – Rassie [Erasmus], Jerry Flannery, Felix Jones … they all have very smart rugby heads on them.

“I wouldn’t say there was anything in particular that was said to me,” Kriel said when asked if he’d been told what more he needed to do to earn Springbok selection.

“I was just focused on controlling the controllables. I just want to work on my game and my growth as a rugby player. And if I get selected [for the Springboks], it will be a massive honour.”

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Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix