EP Kings head coach Carlos Spencer has announced a much changed team to take on the Free State Cheetahs in their final warm up game in Cradock on Friday.
Spencer said Luke Watson will once again captain the side, having returned after sitting out the game against the SWD Eagles in George due to a rib injury.
In comparison to the SWD Eagles game, Spencer has named eight new players in the starting line up and four more have received a starting position after being called up from the bench.
Lizo Gqoboka is the only player to retain his spot in the team at loosehead prop. He is accompanied up front by Michael van Vuuren, who returns to hooker in place of Edgar Marutlulle and Tom Botha at tighthead in place of Charl du Plessis. Both Marutlulle and Du Plessis move to the bench.
Steven Sykes returns at number 4 Lock, with David Bullbring moving to the opposite side at no 5 in place of Steven Cummins who moves to the bench.
The loose trio will consist of Thembelani Bholi, who returns to blindside flank in place of Paul Schoeman who moves to the bench, Shaun McDonald at openside flank in place of Stefan Willemse who also moves to the bench and Luke Watson who comes on in place of Aidon Davis.
Tobie Botes returns at scrumhalf in place of Jaco Grobler, who is benched, with George Whitehead rotating with Gary van Aswegen at flyhalf.
Siviwe ‘Shakes’ Soyizwapi returns to the squad at left wing, while Sergeal Petersen moves across to right wing.
Shane Gates comes on at inside centre for Dwane Jenner, while Ronnie Cooke returns at outside centre in place of Tim Whitehead who moves to the bench.
Scott van Breda takes up his familiar spot at fullback, in place of Ntabeni Dukisa, who also moves onto the bench for Friday’s game.
The only other change on the bench was the inclusion of CJ van de Linde, who along with Kevin Luiters make up the 26 man team travelling to Cradock.
Spencer said that Paul Perez was the only player who was not available for selection due to injury, as he had injured his knee during practice on Friday.
“We don’t know the extent of the injury as yet, as he has only gone for scans today, but we remain positive and hopefully he will come through the scan okay and it’s just a niggle,” said Spencer.
Spencer said Siyanda Grey had also not been available for selection, as he had requested leave to attend a family funeral.
Spencer said the mood in the camp was positive as the end of the pre-season drew near.
“We have had a tough week of training last week and it has been a long five months for some in terms of workload. We have put the hard work in and now it’s all about the business end of the season that starts next Friday night.”
“The guys are really looking forward to it, but we’ll get this week out of the way first, and then worry about Currie Cup next week,” he said.
Spencer said he had not yet seen the team for the Cheetahs, but was expecting a tough match in Cradock. The game will take place at the Cradock Sports Stadium and will kick off at 3pm. Tickets will be available at the gate at R20 for adults and R10 for Scholars.
EP Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Luke Watson (Captain), 7 Shaun McDonald, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 David Bullbring, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Michael van Vuuren, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Charl du Plessis, 19 Paul Schoeman, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Steven Cummins, 22 Kevin Luiters, 23 Jaco Grobler, 24 Gary van Aswegen, 25 Tim Whitehead, 26 Ntabeni Dukisa.
Not too bad a team.Should be interesting to see how Gary van Aswegen develops under Spencer and if he can at last remain injury free and do justice to his undoubted potential. An interesting selection is that of Shaun McDonald who played Varsity cup rugby for UCT last season and walked away with a couple of MOM awards.
@ robzim:
Agree, very nice side….I already have a bad feeling about next Friday
Kings will be the team to watch in the Currie Cup, these guys have been playing together for a while now, while the “top5” teams will rebuild after Super Rugby, I think the Kings will be semi finalists this year.
@ robzim:
I remember reading commentary for the Sharks vs Kings game a few weeks ago and Mcdonalds name was quite prominent, he absolutely terrorized the Sharks currie cup team.
MacroBull wrote:
Liewe vader, jy begin ook al soos Jake klink….kry al moontlike verskonings opgeline, net ingeval julle dalk teen hulle verloor
nortierd wrote:
Indeed, could be a tight one.
I saw Coleman and lock Botha are doubtful starters due to injuries. Eben and Frans are back in full training though but might go straight into the Bok team.
Luckily Peter Grant is gone so if Coleman don’t make it I guess it will be between Catrakillis and du Preez to start at number 10.
MacroBull
@ 4
All right, I did not see that. I know they tried him out at WP but he could not make the grade as they have about a zillion young loose forwards available. Good honest solid player at varsity cup level though, so it will be interesting to see if he can step a level or 2 up.
The Kings will behave eactly as they did in the Super Rugby comp last year. Look promising and have some great moments but will ultimately end up close to (if not at) the bottom.
Luke will get inured in a freak shaving accident and will miss the rest of the season after starting with lots of bluster but very little substance.
nortierd wrote:
haha ons gaan nie, maar julle gaan.
@ robzim:
Ryno Eksteen might be ahead of Robert
@ Stormersboy:
Hahahaha that’s another year out.
😆
8 @ Stormersboy:
And that is exactly why I have a bad feeling about next week.
1st game of the campaign in the Baai in front of their home crowd, all fired up….I’m already thinking Province will be the lambs to the slaughter
@ nortierd:
Let’s hope !
gunther wrote:
Don’t be like that now, gun ons WiePie darem ook n plekkie in die son
😉
@ nortierd:
Lukas Watsembi putting one over the oppressor?
That’s the stuff dreams are made of.
Robzim will be conflicted.
It will be like Turkeys voting for Christmas.
Province will be too scared to lose because if they do, Thelo, who has said winning the cc is non – negotiable, is going to come down on them with his full force (weight) and that can only be nasty. So I expect a narrow victory for them.
@ robzim:
Thelo is waiting to install Jerome Paarwater and Chester.
😆
@ gunther:
@17
And Peter de Villiers to replace Gert as Director of rugby ?
🙂
@ robzim:
Nope that’s not what I’ve heard 😆
gunther wrote:
Jerome is doodgelukkig in Kenia.
Did you see the piece last Thursday just before Boots & All?
He seems like he is quite happy there and the players enjoy him as well.
Glad to see things are going well with him
@ robzim:
I understand Boland might be after Divvie?
nortierd wrote:
I saw that but I don’t think the can afford him.
22 @ robzim:
One would think, but I’m sure they can pay more than UWC?
@ nortierd:
@ 23
That’s what I also thought but I read somewhere that money could be the problem. Seems the wine industry is doing even worse than we think 🙂
On the subject of money.. do you remember we speculated during the soccer wc where James Rodriques would play his club soccer? I saw Real Madrid bought him for around €80 million which make him the 4th most expensive player in history behind Bale, Suarez and Ronaldo. These blokes do not toy around with money they burn it.
24 @ robzim:
Wow, he certainly picked the right stage to make his mark.
That kid is something special, and he literally kicked sand in the faces of many so- called superstars.
But that’s a hell of a lot of money.
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