The second last match of the domestic season takes us to Port Elizabeth where the Kings have to overcome a 40 point deficit to win their way into the Currie Cup Premier Division at the expense of the Cheetahs, who look set to retain their spot in the upper division.
The Kings have their second in line captain in Darron Nell back, with regular captain Luke Watson still on the sidelines. In the backline, George Whitehead gets a start ahead of Wesley Dunlop, who pays for a poor game in Bloemfontein last weekend.
For the Cheetahs, Andries Strauss has played his last game and we will see him in Kings colours next year, with Philip Snyman coming into midfield. Hendro Scholtz is playing his last game ahead of his second shot at retirement, where he will be heading to Shimlas as forwards coach.
We are bound to see Adriaan Strauss play again this year in the Green and Gold, and with rumours doing the rounds that a young squad will tour, there might yet be a spot for young Raymond Rhule, but that is pure speculation.
Eastern Province Kings: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Siyabonga Mangweni, 11 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Devin Oosthuizen, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Conraad Britz, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Darron Nell (captain), 3 Andre Schlechter, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Frank Herne, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 David Bullbring, 19 Mpho Mbiyozo, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 Wesley Dunlop, 22 Scott van Breda.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Hendrik Venter, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Barry Geel, 22 Nico Scheepers.
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Go Cheetahs. Show them they don’t belong.
C’mon the KINGS!!!!!!
Go Kings!!!!!!!!!!
@Megatron (Comment 3) : on the rise!!!!
I’d like to see a good game of exciting rugby that’s all
@robdylan (Comment 4) : don’t worry by 9 he will be very very down and out with not to much to say.
Kings 6
Cheetahs 0
15min
Kings 6
Cheetahs 0
25min
Wow what a ditry game…. Kings are leading but still playing dirty. And that sliding knee tackles
Not a very nice game to watch, hoping for a better second half!
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
14 Kings are making a mockery of 1 dimensional cheetahs!!
It is so easy to win this – pass to wings cheeaths! LOL!
This is funny!!!
go kings…. moer hom
Oh! Its the SR cheetah team!
I can respect this EP team – but for ‘em twatsons
FS 10 EP 6
13 – 6
no walkover here boytjies…
16 – 6
Hail to the kings – they showed some guts!!
To play an entire half with 14 men and still lose a close contest. EP guts 1 way
Where is Siyanda Grey? Good game by the Kings. Cheetahs looked in the first half like they were happy to just keep the points down.
I wonder if that Kings player who elbowed Ross Geldenhuys in the head will be cited. Oelschig’s ‘punch’ didn’t look that hard on tv. Opinions?
Maybe showed guts but still lost both games. Cheetahs did not need to score 50 points, just beat kings at home to ensure they stay in premier division.
Awful game, poor play and ridiculous commentary…
They kept calling Rhule “Rule”…
Lol… kings in super rugby, but cant even get into currie cup
@Megatron (Comment 20) : I feel conflicted .On one hand I feel sorry for the Kings and apprehensive from a South African Rugby point of view.
On the other hand parts of me cannot wait to see them play the Crusaders
This game showed why the Cheetahs had to play a promotion-relegation game. They just can´t seem to string together two good performances in a row.
But the Kings have some very promising players. Heartening to see.
I love how all these people are writing off the Kings and feel they will lose all 16 matches. Look at the Force and Rebels. For some reason those smaller teams cause upsets in their first seasons.
If the Kings defeat the Crusaders I would not even be that surprised.