VIDEO: The Tony Brown factor and other reasons why Boks are better
South Africa and New Zealand are both undergoing metamorphosis since their epic encounter in the World Cup Final - with changes to their coaching staff and playing rosters.
Yet, the Springboks look more settled ahead of their Rugby Championship Round Three encounter with the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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The All Blacks have overhauled their entire coaching roster and last week assistant Leon MacDonald walked out on coach Scott Robertson and his panel.
Rassie Erasmus moved back into the coaching role, while adding All Black Tony Brown and former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery to his roster.
Erasmus was questioned after making 10 changes to his starting team from Round One (a 33-7 win over Australia in Brisbane) to Round Two (winning 30-12 over the Wallabies in Perth).
However, double World Cup winner Jesse Kriel said that while both teams are in a 'similar space', the Bok class of 2024 is a better version than the champions of 2023.
"It is the same for New Zealand," he said, adding: "It is also a new four-year cycle for them and it is about who can prepare the best, then go out there and execute."
Kriel believes the addition of Brown has been key for the Boks.
(WATCH as double World Cup winner Jesse Kriel explains why the Springbok class of 2024 is better than last year's champions....)
"Brownie has been massive since he's come in," the 73-times capped midfielder said.
"He's brought a great energy and a great way of seeing attack.
"I think he's got the guys in the room excited which is awesome.
"I also think he's got us playing a really exciting brand that the guys are enjoying.
"It's nice to get onto the field and be excited about how you want to play and I think as a player that's a great thing to have.
"You can see quite a bit of change, but you keep the core of what you've already built on for the last couple of years.
"Brownie has come in with some different thoughts and different ways he sees attacking rugby and also got a lot of guys using skills they wouldn't normally use.
"I can name [the players from] No.1 to No.15 and you've got guys with amazing skill sets.
"It's nice to see guys like that have started to use those skills and have expressed themselves."
Kriel insisted that the Springboks are a better team now than when they won their second consecutive World Cup crow with a 12-11 win over the All Blacks in Paris in October.
"I believe so," Kriel said, as the build-up to Saturday's big face-off started.
"If you're not better now than you were last year then you've got a bit of a problem.
"The big thing for us is we want to stay ahead of the curve, keep working on our game, keep working on our skillsets to contribute for us to get better.
"But I believe that we are a better team than we were last year."
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The face-off on Saturday is being billed as a 'rematch' of last year's World Cup Final.
"It's a massive Test match," Kriel said.
"We all know against New Zealand it's pretty big but really exciting.
"As a player, you want to be involved in these kinds of Test matches.
"Everyone's crossing fingers to hopefully be involved and it will be another great Test match."
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