Kings need 'game time'

Southern Kings Director of Rugby Alan Solomons said his team is in need of game time as they approach their debut in Super Rugby.

Speaking ahead of the 'practice match' against a Franchise XV in George on Friday, Solomons said the outing at Outeniqua Park is a vital part of the team's pre-season build-up.

Solomons said the players were "looking forward" to playing a full length match, in what will be their last warm-up game before the official pre-season friendlies.

The Kings will be taking on the Lions – the team they replaced in Super Rugby – in Johannesburg next Saturday (February 9) and four days later will be at home (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium) against the Griquas as they prepare for their inaugural Super Rugby campaign.

Their first competition match is against the Western Force at the NMB Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, February 23.

"We need the game time," Solomons said of Friday's outing in George.

"This is the last warm-up match before the friendlies and we will be running it as a normal match.

"It is vitally important to us to get a feel of the player's performance from a conditioning perspective," said added.

The Kings boss said the match conditions would allow them to better evaluate their systems in both defence and attack.

"This match has a two-fold purpose – to evaluate match conditioning as well as evaluate match play," he said.

Solomons said they would not be fielding Schalk Ferreira on Friday, as he had taken a bit of a knock during practice.

Ferreira would have played the second half of the match, with veteran Jaco Engels scheduled to now play the full 80.

Ross Geldenhuys and Kevin Buys (both at tighthead) are the other props listed for Friday's outing.