With the promotion / relegation for Super Rugby something of the past, and the departure of a few Southern Kings players, the EP Kings can now start focusing on getting their 1st Division campaign back on track and a possible promotion to the Premier Division of the ABSA Currie Cup.
After last weeks somewhat embarrassing win against the Border Bulldogs, 9 – 6, the Kings have cleaned house and brought in some reinforcements for their game against log leaders the Pumas. Only three players from the Kings starting 15 that played against Border will start against the Pumas.
Tighthead prop Lizo Gqoboka, inside center Tiger Mangweni and wing Marcello Sampson are the only players to keep their starting positions from last week. The changes amongst the forwards see Hannes Franklin coming in at hooker, Darren Nel partnering Steven Sykes in the middle of the scrum and fellow Super Rugby campaigners Devin Oosthuizen and Cornell du Preez forming the loose trio with Tim Agaba.
The backs will also see some familiar Super Rugby names, Scott van Breda moves in at fullback with Michael Killian joining Sampson on the wing. Ronnie Cooke will partner Mangweni in the mid field and George Whitehead will form the half back combination with Argentine Nicolas Vergallo.
The Kings find themselves in a rather unfortunate 4th position on the log and 11 points behind log leaders, the Pumas. As the competition moves into its second round there is still a good chance for the Kings to reach the final, but they would need some help from the other teams to reach that all important top spot and a guaranteed promotion / relegation against the bottom of the log in the Premier Division.
EP Kings
15 Scott van Breda 14 Micheal Killian 13 Ronnie Cooke 12 Siyabonga Mangweni (V/C) 11 Marcello Sampson 10 George Whitehead 9 Nicholas Vergallo 8 Cornel du Preez 7 Tim Agaba 6 Devin Oosthuizen 5 Steven Sykes 4 Darron Nell (C) 3 Lizo Gqoboka 2 Hannes Franklin 1 Brendon Olivier
Replacements
16 Albie de Swartd 17 Enoch Mnyaka 18 Rynier Bernardo 19 Stefan Willemse 20 Yusuf “Boela” Abrahams 21 Ntabeni Dukisa 22 Siyanda Grey
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Pierre maybe you are made up of EP, SWD and Border, yes but it seems as if all contracted players brought in for the SuperRugby competition default to the EP Kings. Is this so and how was it determined where these guys should play. Are the other partner unions happy with the arrangement?
That Promo/Relegation game will have a lot riding on it. Hope the Sharks can scrape themselves off the bottom of the log before then!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 1) : EP is the main union with Border and SWD being sub unions, those players signed with EP
This is where they should have started,got into the cc premier division and then made a claim for super rugby.
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : Me too. Im sure whoever is playing in that game will have all their Boks back though.
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : don’t think the Sharks will ever be in a relegation position, if I live to see that day I will ban myself from any form of rugby
@pierre_mackie (Comment 3) : So the other 2 are actually non entities in the “partnership”, much like EP and Border were with the Sharks. No wonder Ive heard that not all the partners are happy with the setup.
@bobby 26 (Comment 4) : will be difficult to sign players to compete at CC level, all top players wants to play SR, who many of Kings players have now left after tasting SR, it would have been better if they played CC so then at least they could have kept some of the players that left to play CC at other unions
@bobby 26 (Comment 4) : were it not for Super Rugby, would the Kings have really ever retained Sergeal Petersen or CJ Velleman? I don’t think so, it’s an important step for the Kings, the exposure to Super Rugby will do more good than harm to the health of EP Rugby
@bobby 26 (Comment 4) : was trying to say, would be difficult to sign any top players to compete at CC level if you still playing 1st div, because all top players wants to play SR
The Pumas are running riot, and I am doubtful if the EP can reel them in, never mind beat them in a match.
This weekend will tell, but if the Kings can’t secure a bonus point win, and prevent the Pumas from taking any points from the match, then they will struggle to reel in the 11 log point defecit. Then there is still a 180 odd points difference to make up too.
@pierre_mackie (Comment 10) : i understood what you were trying to say,no need to explain,none of us are pro [email protected]Ludz (Comment 9) : what does CJ know about rugby,besides the 45 point klap he gave us on Friday
What is wrong with me, Im more interested in this game than in the Bok / Argie game. I hope it is televised.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 13) : 😆
@bobby 26 (Comment 12) : 😆 that was brutal, they never gave you guys a chance
Oh look, there’s Stefan Willemse playing 1st Div senior Currie Cup at lock, after being let go by the Sharks, who don’t have a crisis of up and coming locks
@disgruntled shark (Comment 16) : he’s better than Peet Marais?
He’s only about 195m, isn’t he?
@robdylan (Comment 17) : I’ve seen at blindside for the Kings, he’s a really good player, better than Peet Marais, doubt it.
Marcello Sampson is out with a shoulder injury. Michael Killian moves to the left wing, Siyanda Grey goes to the right wing and Wayne Stevens comes on to the bench.
Doubt any team will stop the Pumas from ending the year ontop of he log in the 1st Divison.
If they give Kings a free ride into the CC Premier Division, they will have to include the Pumas too.
Otherwise we have another crazy situation where he second/third best side gets promoted, and the best side not!!!
@KingCheetah (Comment 20) : sort of like the Cheetahs barely making the SR grade every year but still being included. I know what you mean.
The Kings having to play B division rugby is a real disgrace.
They should have earned automatic entry into the CC ,just like that other B division team did, way back in the 90’s.
@fyndraai (Comment 22) : SARU went one better and allowed them into Super rugby, unfortunately they fluffed it.
@fyndraai (Comment 22) : ❓ ❓ Which team was that? Can’t be the Sharks. They were already there in 1990.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) : Who was it that beat the mighty, unbeatable Nortern Tvl at Loftus in 1990. I cant remember this…the only thing I of that day that I remember was that I was in Pretoria that day and it was lekker. The black and white had the whole dorp to themselves
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 25) : 😛
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 25) :
My point exactly.
They came and turned the old order on it’s head and added a large number of perhaps not the brightest, but certainly the most one-eyed passionate fans to the game. 😉
The Kings’ fans have shown themselves to be plenty passionate also. They deserve better.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 23) : @fyndraai (Comment 27) : Thank you
I don’t really think they fluffed it. I think they were unlucky to lose to the Lions in PE, 2 tries that probably shouldn’t have happened, the intercept and the forward pass before the last, alas we can’t cry over spilt milk. I just don’t think they fluffed it. Unlucky is the better term for me
@Ludz (Comment 28) : Some would say that the Sharks were “unlucky” to lose the 2007 Super 14 final, others would say that they fluffed it.
Fact is, The Kings, after a season of Super Rugby, should never have been in a position, where the outcome was in doubt. They should have retained their spot with ease. To emphasise this, look how many of the Kings players have been bought by the big unions and compare that to what was bought from the Lions in the corresponding time.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 29) :
Lions lost about 20 players after we lost our super rugby status
@Zibbie (Comment 30) : I’m pro Kings, but not saying they must relegate another SA side, it was an unfortunate situation for the Lions 2012 and for the Kings in 2013, SR did them well but not guaranteed another year also put them in a worst position, losing out on a possible promotion for pr div
@Zibbie (Comment 30) : Exactly – you guys were depleted, while the Kings were riding the crest of a wave. The Kings should have shut the Lions out in the first game already.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 32) : one player that impressed me most from the Lions was Maku, I never rated him as a hooker but he had a good run with the Kings, plays better then Cilli
@pierre_mackie (Comment 33) : Agree on Maku, he was great. I thought Sykes also played very well and with plenty of passion for the team.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 32) :
i have a sneaky feeling the promo game might go the same way next season . Kings to be promoted . SR has a bit of an injury tally 😉
Hopefully the Lions can recruit well enough .
Another problem is the Kings lost against the Pumas this WE . so it seems the Pumas is in the front seat to play CC play -offs .