England George Kruis chats

By Kath
February 1 2018

HE was dropped after England’s autumn international win against Argentina and has seemingly fallen down the pecking order with boss Eddie Jones – but lock George Kruis is a man on a mission this week. The 27-year-old Saracens’ second row was a key cornerstone of the England pack in 2016 as Jones’ men went unbeaten during the calendar year and lifted the Six Nations title. Ever since 2016 – Lions selection last May excluded – Kruis’ star has fallen for Jones’ men – his importance in the line-out no more making him a must-pick for England forward coach Steve Borthwick. Injured for much of 2017, dropped for an error-strewn performance in the first Test of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, a peripheral figure against the Pumas at Twickenham late last year, before paying the price and being jettisoned for the Red Rose. Selection in the second row is fierce for England this Six Nations; Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes are all also fighting for the same jerseys – four doesn’t go into three for Jones. An injury crisis in the back row, which has robbed Jones of the services of Billy Vunipola, Nathan Hughes and potentially Chris Robshaw, could yet see Itoje or Lawes switch to the No.6 jersey and all four world class England locks included against Italy this weekend.   Whatever direction Jones and his coaching staff decide to go in this weekend – Kruis is a man on a mission; determined to make up for lost time against the Azzurri. 

 

“I’ve achieved some big things, which I’m really proud of but it hasn’t been all highs in recent times,” said Kruis. “I’ve had a couple of injures as well. It’s all part and parcel of playing rugby.    “There have been selection highs and lows in terms of form but at club level and international level I’ve enjoyed some real high perks.

“If I look at my position we have some world class players in there – it’s not just two or three, there’s some who aren’t even in the squad.   “We’re very fortunate to have a lot depth in that position. Off the back of that it creates huge competition and that’s exactly what the coach wants.

“I’m just trying to get as much game time as possible at club level and just listen to what the coach says for both club and country and tweak a few things and get my body in shape and go from there.

“As a coach Eddie Jones is dead clear in terms of what he wants from you, which I guess as players, is all we can ask for. We want to be treated nice and simple and an open approach works best with us.   “He’s been great and allowed me to know what I need to work on and I just go on from there.”

 

England are nailed on favourites to beat Italy this weekend in Rome and get their Six Nations title defence off to the best possible start.   Clearly Jones’ men won’t have it all their own way in the competition this season, with Ireland, Scotland and Wales all enjoying some meaningful results against the Southern Hemisphere sides in 2017.    Injuries have dominated pre-tournament discussions – but Kruis insists England are solely focussed on getting off to the best possible start this weekend. 

“You notice it,” added Kruis. “You see people are injured but that’s part of rugby.   “But on the flip side the majority of players have come through and everyone has an opportunity because of injuries.   “It’s a good chance for some of the younger lads. And it will be a good test. We’re trying to build a squad that can deal with injuries and it will be a good test for us.    “We’re focussed on beating Italy, we’ll be a step closer. It will be a good showing for the depth of the squad and how people come and react to that game time.  “The preparations have been really good so far. We went out to Portugal which was great, a good change of scenery. It’s something different and it was a tough week but one we needed to get back into shape of international mind set.

“I want to play as much as I can. There’s a big focus on the group really. We’ve made some unbelievable memories in this competition so far in the last few years and we’re looking to add to that.   “It’s group first but on an individual note I want to be getting back to the form I know I can play at.

“Italy are a decent team, last year they chucked something at us that was very different. They want to be like that, they want to be quite innovative. They want to test us in certain ways.”

Kruis was at Camberley Rugby Club this week with Mitsubishi Motors to launch its Kit 4 Clubs scheme in England.    The initiative will allow rugby clubs across England to earn new playing kit and training equipment – produced by England Rugby partners Canterbury and Gilbert, the kit available for clubs includes essential items such as playing jerseys, training tops, rain jackets, practice bibs, balls, contact wedges and more.

“It’s great to have big, well-known brands who have a bit of push behind them,” said Kruis. “To be promoting it and doing something about it, to provide decent kit for the lads and ladies is a big thing.   “I think it’s great because we’ve all come up through changing rooms and clubs like this and I think giving back is a big part of what we should be doing.”

 

 Mitsubishi Motors is proud to support England Rugby with its new grassroots initiative: Kit 4 Clubs. For more information please visit: mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/kit4clubs