Luke hit by bug and will sit out clash
Blow forces Kings to ring changes ahead of tonight’s showdown
HOPES that the return of captain Luke Watson would add a vital X-factor to the EP Kings’ allround play were dashed when he was forced to pull out of tonight’s Vodacom Cup match against a Sharks XV because of flu.
Watson was due to have his first run on start since August last year when he suffered concussion at Loftus Versfeld which forced him to miss the last seven games of the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Tonight’s game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is the Kings’ last match in the competition because they failed to make the playoffs after managing only two wins in their previous six matches.
Watson started from the bench in the Kings’ previous two matches against the Eagles and Boland and he had been excited at the prospect of having his first run on start.
Apart from Watson, bustling number eight Tim Agaba has also been laid low by a flu bug which has resulted in the Kings pack being reshuffled for tonight’s clash.
Watson will be replaced on the side of the scrum by Thembelani Bholi and Paul “Tier” Schoeman takes the place of Agaba.
Prop Simon Kerrod failed a late fitness test and Springbok CJ van der Linde moves up from the bench to take his place.
With Watson sidelined, centre Tim Whitehead will take over as captain.
Whitehead is no stranger to the captaincy role as he had led the team earlier in the season.
Poor campaigns by both teams have left them out of the running for a berth in the playoffs and this might be the incentive to play an expansive brand of running rugby.
Before he was forced to withdraw Watson said: “Hopefully we will have a good performance and entertain the crowd.
“It has been mentioned that there is not must at stake so hopefully that will allow both sides to play less traditional South African rugby and something more exciting.
“I am excited about the game and for me whether there is a cup whether there is no cup, final or no final I try my best to approach the game the same intensity and the same honour that it deserves.”
Included in the Sharks team is former Kings and Samoan star Paul Perez who will pose a big threat with his explosive runs down the touchline.
Tonight’s clash also marks the return of the Sharks’ Currie Cup captain Tera Mtembu for his first outing since sustaining a major injury. Tonight’s teams: EP Kings: Siviwe Soyizwapi; Siyanda Grey, Ronnie Cooke, Tim Whitehead (capt), Luther Obi; Hansie Graaff, Jaco Grobler; Paul Schoeman, Stefan Willemse, Thembelani Bholi, Cornell Hess, Tazz Fuzani, CJ van der Linde, Edgar Marutlulle, Lizo Gqoboka.
Reserves: Michael van Vuuren, Enoch Mnyaka, David Bulbring, Eital Bredenkamp, Enroco Acker, Sphu Msutwana, Scott van Breda.
Sharks XV: Garth April; Paul Perez, Paul Jordaan, Marius Louw, Tonderai Chavhanga; Heimar Williams, Hanco Venter; Tera Mtembu, Johan Meyer, Khaya Majola, Jean Drotse, Christiaan de Bruin, Marne Coetzee, Monde Hadebe (captain), Barend Potgieter.
Reserves: Johan Erasmus, Mthunzi Moloi, Sias Koen, Francois Kleinhans, Cameron Wright, Sandile Kubeka, Alcino Izaacs. Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni. Kick-off: 7pm.