George Kruis a huge fan of Paul O’Connell

A lot of players claim to be fans of Paul O’Connell. But his opponent on Sunday, England lock George Kruis, really means it. 

When O’Connell was Lions captain in South Africa in 2009 Kruis – then just 19 – was in the stands cheering him on.

The youngster had signed up for a three-month stint playing for Hamilton in Cape Town, the tall but lean lock deciding that it was time to toughen up in South Africa rather than Dorking.