Saints stay a big boost for Kruger
Juandre Kruger believes his 'awesome' experience at Saints will help him win silverware in his homeland.
After a highly influential season and a half at Franklin's Gardens, Kruger turned the offer of a new deal at Northampton to return to the Blue Bulls in South Africa.
In his time at the Gardens, Kruger helped transform Saints' lineout into one of the best in the Premiership and his ball-carrying skills made him an all-round forward of real pedigree.
He won the European Challenge Cup and the LV= Anglo-Welsh Cup in his 18 months at Saints, and the South African is hoping that winning culture will help him add to the Bulls' growing trophy cabinet.
"My time at the Saints was awesome," said Kruger. "I was able to play in all the European competitions and my lock partners were all international calibre. I played alongside Ignacio Fernndez Lobbe a lot and learnt so much - not only as a player, but as a person as well.
"A lot of forwards who go overseas learn a lot and they come back better forwards. At Northampton we were lucky to have a very strong pack of forwards - a real dominant pack, like the Bulls."
Kruger left the Bulls to get more first-team experience with his path to the Super 14 blocked by the South African legends Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
The 24-year-old is seen as heir apparent to Matfield in the Bulls and South Africa side, and Kruger is looking to pick up some silverware after missing out in his first spell at Loftus Versfeld with defeat in the Currie Cup final.
"It's an exciting time and I've got a new challenge which lies ahead of me now," said Kruger. "I've come back to play for the Bulls, they're a great side. I want to be challenging for Currie Cup and Super 14 titles and prove myself on that level after learning so much overseas.
"I'm looking forward to playing a substantial role for the Bulls and help to make sure we keep the trophy in Pretoria. I had a taste (of Currie Cup rugby) in 2008 but the Sharks took it so I'd really like to win it.
"The majority of the Bulls have already won it so for me it's very important we keep winning - I want to be a part of a winning culture."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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