Kings to face 'depleted' Scarlets
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: While Southern Kings coach Deon Davids will be able to field a largely unchanged team, his Scarlets counterpart, Wayne Pivac, will be without 12 players – all on international duty.
The Kings will host the Welsh franchise, the Scarlets, at the Nelson Mandela University’s Madibaz Stadium in a Pro14 Round Seven match on Friday.
Davids has opted for consistency in his backline after naming an unchanged back seven from the team that last did duty in Italy, against Benetton, a fortnight ago.
The team will see three changes in the forwards pack that will take on last season’s finalists, Scarlets.
Loosehead prop, Schalk Ferreira, who missed the match against Benetton due to a fractured nose, is back in the starting XV.
Hooker Alandre van Rooyen will make his first start of the season in the place of the injured Michael Willemse.
Loose forward Stephan de Wit comes in at No.6 in a rotational switch with Cyril-John Velleman, who falls out of the matchday 23.
There is some excitement surrounding the inclusion of newbies Tertius Kruger and Fijian Meli Rokotua on the bench.
“I’m excited to see them. It’s time now for them to step and show that they can play at this level,”Davids said.
“I’m excited to see them impose themselves and showing what they can bring. The new guys have shown us some glimpses of what they can offer, so we are excited to see that in match situations.
“We are rotating CJ Velleman and Stephan de Wit, while even though he has recovered, this rotation also gives him more time in the recovery from the shoulder injury he sustained in the previous match.”
* Meanwhile the Scarlets will have 12 players on international duty with Wales.
As a result Pivac named a much-changed side.
Twenty-four-year-old centre Steff Hughes will lead the side with the Scarlets looking for a victory to keep pressure on Leinster who currently top Conference B.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Dan Jones link up at halfback, Paul Asquith partners captain Hughes in midfield with Ioan Nicholas, Johnny McNicholl and Clayton Blommetjies named as the back three.
Experienced tighthead prop Werner Kruger, who has represented South Africa on the international stage, starts alongside Marc Jones and Phil Price.
Australian Steve Cummins makes a return from injury to start in the second row alongside Port Elizabeth native David Bulbring, whilst Will Boyde, Josh Macleod and Uzair Cassiem bolster the pack in the back row.
“We’re looking forward to getting out Pro14 campaign back underway,” Pivac said.
“A victory over the Southern Kings on Friday would ensure that we keep the pressure on the Conference leaders whilst also widening the gap on the teams chasing our tails.
“The Kings secured a bonus point victory, and a first victory in the campaign, over Glasgow in round four so we know we’ll have our work cut out for us in front of what’s expected to be a good crowd at the Madibaz Stadium.”
Blade Thomson, who was due to link up with the squad in South Africa after Scotland’s camp, didn’t travel following the birth of his second child.
Mid-afternoon training session at Madibaz University complete! We’ll be taking on @SouthernKingsSA this Friday, kick-off 18:00 (GMT). Watch the game live on @PremierSportsTV.
Sesiwn ymarfer hwyr prynhawn i osgoi’r haul tanbaid! Byddwn ni’n fyw ar Premier Sports nos Wener. pic.twitter.com/ra45ntEROX— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) October 24, 2018
Teams:
Southern Kings: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Berton Klaasen, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Ruaan Lerm, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 John-Charles Astle (captain), 4 Schalk Oelofse , 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Tango Balekile, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Luphumlo Mguca, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Martinus Burger, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Tertius Kruger, 23 Meli Rokoua.
Scarlets: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Paul Asquith, 12 Steff Hughes (captain), 11 Ioan Nicholas, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Josh Macleod, , 6 Will Boyde, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Phil Price.
Replacements; 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Tom Price, 20 Josh Helps, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Morgan Williams, 23 Ed Kennedy.
Date: Friday, October 26
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Paul Mente (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
#KnowYourOpponent – Tomorrow could see the Kings face up against PE boy and former player, David Bulbring. A powerful lock in the typical South African mould. Destructive on defense and able to gain meters in attack!#KINvSCA pic.twitter.com/Xg8POKsqQF
— Isuzu Southern Kings (@SouthernKingsSA) October 25, 2018
