GEORGE Kruis admits being dropped by the Lions was hard to take but insists lessons from the three-Test series against New Zealand will stand both him and England in good stead.
Saracens enforcer Kruis overcame multiple injury setbacks to earn a place on the tour and then start the first Test in Auckland. However, a lacklustre display in a 30-15 defeat saw him dumped by head coach Warren Gatland, who replaced him with clubmate Maro Itoje.
Kruis failed to make the bench in Tests two and three with Courtney Lawes selected instead, but the 27 year-old has quickly come to terms with his disappointment and is determined to win back his England place during the autumn internationals.
Kruis told The Rugby Paper: “When you under perform in a game when you know there’s a lot more in you, it’s very tough to take. But this is part and parcel of playing rugby, it’s how you bounce back that really counts.
“I’d like to think that I presented myself well in training. I certainly felt part of the overall effort for the second and third Tests in terms of helping the guys and I like to think I contributed.
“It was an incredible experience to be part of. I obviously didn’t play the way I wanted to in that first Test, but to get back from having three operations in a year and put myself in contention to start was something I can still feel massively proud about.”
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin August 27, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin August 27, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
Townsend: We'll have to be at our very best
GREGOR Townsend may have several wins over South Africa on his CV as a player, and one as an assistant coach.
Gatland's a facing big day at the office
WARREN Gatland has known plenty of huge fixtures during his coaching Grand Slam career games, Six Nations title-clinchers, Lions series deciders and World Cup semi-finals, plus European and Premiership finals.
Ireland all at sea as McKenzie pulls the strings
SOME games live up to their billing and others don’t. This fits firmly into the second territory with a subdued Ireland falling a long way short of their world No.1 status while New Zealand, you sense, were often struggling to engage top gear themselves for long periods of the match.
More heartache for England as Aussies steal it at the death third attempt the odds
THE Wallabies had the last waltz in a match of extraordinary ebb-and-flow drama at the Old Cabbage Patch, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with an audacious, blistering injury time try by winger Max Jorgensen.
Cunningham-South gunning for Boks
CHANDLER Cunningham-South is aiming to be a big hit against the Springboks on Saturday after adding New Zealand to his highlights reel.
Baxter backing Slade to adapt to changes
EXETER are confident that the decision to change their defensive system will not jeopardise Henry Slade's place in the England side.
