With Premiership survival a priority following the 35-point deduction for salary cap breaches, rugby director Mark McCall has been resting top stars for away matches in Europe.
However, a side featuring academy products Matt Gallagher, Roti Segun, Manu Vunipola, Joel Kpoku, Nick Isiekwe and Ben Earl bared their teeth in last week’s narrow Champions Cup loss at Munster – proof of a stellar future, says Kruis.
Kruis, whose return from England’s World Cup campaign coincided with the salary cap firestorm, told The Rugby Paper: “It’s not been without emotion but it’s just about pulling together now and we all know our jobs – and in the longer term I’m sure we’ll be stronger.
“The exposure younger guys are getting at this stage of the season and the exposure a lot of them got towards the end of last season, with how well they’ve been doing in the ALeague, Premiership Cup and now the Premiership and Champions Cup, is tremendous.
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