Kings rush Lions discard in for Edinburgh showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Southern Kings coach Deon Davids has made a number of changes to the team that will take on Edinburgh in Round 14 of the Pro14 on Saturday.
The most significant is the inclusion of young Bader Pretorius on the bench.
The 21-year-old former Lions pivot will provide cover at flyhalf, after joining the Southern Kings this week.
“We are pleased to have Bader Pretorius joining us,” Davids said.
“He arrived at the start of this week and has adjusted quickly and smoothly to our structures. He is a young talent whom we expect good things from.”
There is will potentially six changes.
A combination of rotation of the squad and new injuries have led Davids to make some personnel changes to the team that narrowly went down to the Cheetahs a week ago.
The backline will see one forced change at centre, where Berton Klaasen has been ruled out of action this week after sustaining an eye injury. His place in the starting XV will be taken by Harlon Klaasen.
The change will bring about a positional switch in the midfield which will see Tertius Kruger, who started at outside centre last week, donning the No.12 jersey with Harlon Klaasen playing at outside centre.
Tighthead prop Luvuyo Pupuma will make a return to the starting lineup, replacing Nicolaas Oosthuizen.
Experienced former Italian international, Andries van Schalkwyk, will also start alongside captain Jacobus Astle in the second row, with Stephan Greeff going onto the bench.
Blindside flank Martinus Burger will also start this week ahead of Henry Brown, while No.8 Andisa Ntsila returns to the starting XV in the place of Ruaan Lerm, who will not be part of the match-day squad this week due to personal reasons.
A late call will be made regarding the starting loosehead prop for the match – between veteran Schalk Ferreira and youthful Alulutho Tshakweni.
The 34-year-old Ferreira sustained a knock to his back at training this week. While he has been making good progress, the medical team has been practicing caution and will make a late call on his availability for the clash on Saturday.
Should Ferreira take to the field, the 20-year-old Tshakweni will start on the bench and Oosthuizen will drop out of the match-23 squad.
“We have had a good week of preparations,” said Davids.
“But it has not been without its hiccups as we, unfortunately, lost Berton Klaasen with an eye injury. We are also keeping a close eye on Schalk Ferreira with his minor back issue. We will make a late call on his participation in the match.”
Fijian, Meli Rokoua, will also make a return to the team from the bench.
* Meanwhile Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill has been boosted by the return of recent Scotland call-ups David Cherry, Luke Crosbie and Chris Dean.
The uncapped trio – who were released from Scotland camp earlier this week – are named in the starting line-up as the team selection includes nine changes to the side that secured a historic Champions Cup victory against Montpellier last Friday.
Pierre Schoeman, Bill Mata, Henry Pyrgos, Jaco van der Walt, James Johnstone and Dean all retain their place in the starting XV as the capital side search for their second victory over their Conference B rivals this month.
Ahead of the fixture in Port Elizabeth, which sees Edinburgh make their first ever visit to the Madibaz Stadium, Cockerill said: “We’ve had a tough and intense week of training in Port Elizabeth and the boys are looking forward to going up against a combative Southern Kings side.
“The players should take credit for our good run of form, but we’ve got to back it up at the Madibaz Stadium tomorrow evening.
“We certainly won’t take our opponents lightly. We will need to be at the top of our game, both mentally and physically, if we are to secure all points on offer come full-time.”
Fullback Dougie Fife returns to action for the first time since being named as man of the match in the 38-0 victory over the Southern Kings three-weeks ago.
The Scotland international is joined in the back-three by Tom Brown and James Johnstone, with the latter switching to the wing after nailing down the number 13 jersey in recent weeks.
Dean is partnered in midfield by Scottish Rugby Academy graduate, George Taylor, whilst an unchanged halfback pairing sees Van der Walt once again link-up with experienced scrum-half, Pyrgos.
In the front row, Schoeman packs down alongside hooker Cherry – who last week was one of 12 Edinburgh players named in Scotland’s Six Nations squad – and Italian international Pietro Ceccarelli.
Fraser McKenzie – who returned from injury to skipper the capital side to victory over Southern Kings three-weeks-ago – is once again named as captain and is partnered in the second-row by Callum Hunter-Hill.
Fijian international No.8, Mata – who this week was named as one of 15 nominees for EPCR European Player of the Year – anchors a back row featuring Luke Hamilton – who returns to action after missing four games through injury – and openside flank, Crosbie.
Teams:
Southern Kings: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Ntabeni Dukisa, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Martinus Burger, 6 Cyril John Velleman, 5 John-Charles Astle (captain), 4 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Schalk Ferreira/Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Alandre Van Rooyen, 17 Lupumlo Mguca, 18 Alulutho Tshakweni/Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Henry Brown, 21 Sarel Pretorius, 22 Bader Pretorius, 23 Meli Rokoua.
Edinburgh: 15 Dougie Fife, 14 Tom Brown, 13 George Taylor, 12 Chris Dean, 11 James Johnstone, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Ally Miller, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Fraser McKenzie (captain), 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 David Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Mungo Mason, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.
Date: Saturday, January 26
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT; 15.15 UK time)
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Ruhan Meiring (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
📢Come and #Jointhejol with us this weekend:
Who? Isuzu Southern Kings v Edinburgh
Where? Madibaz Stadium
When? Saturday 26 January
Tickets: R20
Kickoff: 17:15
Gates open at 15:00#IsuzuSouthernKings pic.twitter.com/bvQrlA31hY— Isuzu Southern Kings (@SouthernKingsSA) January 24, 2019
