Is this the match where it starts to get ugly for the Kings?
We’ve seen a far better side (on paper). in the Bulls, annihilated by the Crusaders at home. Few would be surprised if the Kings take a half-century here; then again, people said that when they faced the Force, Sharks and Chiefs too and it hasn’t quite turned out that way.
Kick-off is at 08h35 SA time.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Zac Guildford.
Southern Kings: 15 George Whitehead, 11 Marcello Sampson, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornell du Preez, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Daniel Adongo, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira (captain).
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jaco Engels, 18 Rynier Bernardo, 19 Devin Oosthuizen, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Waylon Murray, 22 Elric van Vuuren.

Kings are going to get scalped.
Saders 17- 3 Kings
16mins
This is lovely to watch :D, score more score more.
4 tries in 30 mins, yes please!
Score please?
Halftime
Crusaders 31 – 13 Kings
41 – 13 Crusaders
49mins
48 – 13 Saders
57mins
68mins gone
The Kings dont get the ball all that much but when they do they dont KICK it away. They knock it.
Go Kings! Go get a consolation try!
7mins left
55 – 13
Kings try!!! Great team try!!!
Fulltime
Crusaders 55 – 20 Kings
that’s a bad scoreline, but other SA teams have done worse in Christchurch. Kings scored as many tries against the Saders as the Bulls did
@robdylan (Comment 15) : I think the Kings did ok considering everything.
@robdylan (Comment 15) :
75-14, for example is a much worse scoreline.
But one must allow the small-minded their small joys.
I would say that expecting to be granted something that hasn’t been earned. At all is small minded, but then again since when do people have to work for rewards? I’m glad to see it was a big score line, almost exactly what I predicted, and I hope every score line on their tour gets bigger and bigger 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 15) : Since when is it tries that only count? Last time I checked rugby consisted of attack and defense 🙂
@Seth101 (Comment 3) : As opposed to another team conceding 4 tries in 34minutes last week.
I think the Kings were overawed in the first 30. Once they got over themselves they started to put some good rugby together. Everybody expected a thrashing. I wouldn’t call that a thrashing – the ‘saders had to work in the second half as opposed to the first half where they used the Kings paralysis to advantage. This side that everyone poo poohed is showing that it not about to lie down and die.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) :
😆
Look the Kings are a work in progress, the big thing is about growing into the competition and learning as much as possible and hopefully sneak a few. This was a 1st time experience for about 18 or 19 of these okes, considering what happened with distractions and I think the loss of our 4 1st choice captains. Don’t think anyone would’ve expected any less than what happened today.
For all those who were mature enough to take the result for what it is, I thank your being mature and reacting in a mature manner. The Kings will continue to improve and grow, of that I have no doubt, a lot of areas that require work, but it will come
SOUTHERN KINGS ON THE RISE!!!
Pretty much as expected.
Loss of 35 points. 0 log points. Again.
Reckon we should hold back the hosannas just for now.
@Caratacus (Comment 21) : Not a thrashing? 😯 The 6th biggest loss suffered by a SA team in Christchurch ever.
A 35 point loss to a off form Crusaders team. So basically the Kings were predicted to be crap so if they are crap it can be considered a good performance? The Kings may grow in strength, but my point is they could be the best or the worst, either way they do not deserve to be here and have not earned their place, by all means beat the Lions of make it into the Currie Cup and I will respect that, but having your place handed to you, that is pathetic, I would be embarrassed to support a team that needed hand outs instead of earning it on their own, sad.
@Seth101 (Comment 26) :
All the other teams in the competition had their places handed to them. Why should it be different for the Kings?