The Eastern Province Kings will field a team against the Xerox Golden Lions at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

However, it does not resemble their 1st-choice 15 in any way.

It was confirmed late on Thursday that the Currie Cup Round 5 encounter in Johannesburg will go ahead, after several days of uncertainty – the result of EP Kings players going on strike over non-payment of salaries.

The South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA), when they arrived in Port Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon, were informed that the outstanding salaries had been paid.

However, the veil of secrecy remained over the entire saga, as nobody was prepared to comment.

EP Kings coach Brent Janse van Rensburg named a team that showed 10 changes from the side which lost to the Cell C Sharks last week, but he was “unavailable” to comment on the changes.

The powers that be opted to release the team only, without giving any explanation for the rash of changes.

EP Kings President Cheeky Watson was still not willing to comment on the financial crisis in his union and any requests for comment was redirected to SARPA – who in turn declined to comment because the issue was now “resolved”.

When it was pointed out that a mostly 2nd-string selection will travel to Johannesburg, the only reaction was: “Interesting…”

The EP Kings did not train on Tuesday, after a players meeting in the morning decided they “will not deliver any services until they are paid for their services”.

Wednesday was their day off and they returned to training on Thursday, after salaries were paid.

However, the stony silence surrounding the mass changes will evoke suggestions that the players at the forefront of this week’s stand-off were “punished”.

That can only be refuted if officials are willing to discuss the week’s dramatic developments.

The 10 changes to the starting 15 include the absence of regular captain Luke Watson, who was listed as injured in the regular weekly medical report.

In fact none of the players axed were – according to the official medical report – carrying any injuries.

The only players who retained their places in the starting 15 are prop Lizo Gqoboka, flank Thembelani Bholi, flyhalf Karlo Aspeling, centre Ronnie Cooke and wing Siyanda Grey.

In the backline Hansie Graaff will start at fullback in place of Scott van Breda, Tim Whitehead comes in at inside centre ahead of JP du Plessis to captain the team, Sylvian Mahuza is on the left wing ahead of Luther Obi and Dwayne Kelly is the scrumhalf in place of Enrico Acker.

Among the forwards Paul Schoeman will play at No 8 ahead of Tim Agaba, Stefan Willemse replaces Watson at flank, Cameron Lindsay and Tazz Fuzani are the locks, with Cornell Hess and Steven Sykes out, Simon Kerrod is the tighthead prop in place of Tom Botha, while Edgar Marutlulle comes in at hooker and Martin Ferreira is out.

Eastern Province Kings: 15 Hansie Graaff, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Tim Whitehead (Captain), 11 Sylvian Mahuza, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Paul Schoeman, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Basil Short, 18 Cornell Hess, 19 Eital Bredenkamp, 20 Enrico Acker, 21 Elgar Watts, 22 JP du Plessis.

Date: Saturday 5 September
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Kick-Off: 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: JJ Wagner

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