Theuns was produced by the old North Eastern Cape Union, as was Felix du Plessis, Nic du Plessis, Willie Rousseau, Bennie and Stanley Osler.

They all came from this area or went to school there, especially from the town Steynsburg or the surrounding areas. One could argue that environment played a role; the training college there probably helped to formulate and improve the standard of the game in that region.

Be that as it may, his rugby foundation was solidly laid by the time he came to Stellenbosch, and he was already accepted as one of the first specialised hookers. As far back as 1906, Paul Roos hooked, but it was more by accident than design because in those days it was a case of "first come, first down". Kruger was one of the first to realise that a hooker had a prominent, ultimately specialised role to play in a pack of forwards.

Not only was he a grand striker of the ball, but he was deceptively fast and could move around the field at great pace. And that is how he made his name as a great Bok forward. He certainly had the potential to become a Bok captain; indeed he was an excellent captain of Transvaal.