Less games not ideal for Kings preps

GAME time will be a precious commodity for the 46 members of the Southern Kings squad ahead of their team’s opening Super Rugby match against the Jaguares next month.

While rival teams like the Lions and Stormers will have three warm-ups, the Kings will have less time to identify their best combinations because they will only have two outings to prepare.

First up for the Kings is a clash against the Border Bulldogs in East London on February 4 followed by a final run against the SWD Eagles in Port Elizabeth on February 11.

Last year the Kings also said they would be playing a warm-up against the Stormers in Cape Town, but that game has fallen by the wayside.

Three games would certainly have given Kings head coach Deon Davids a better chance of nailing down his best starting team to face the Jaguares at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Last year the Kings had warm-ups against the Cheetahs and SWD Eagles and a controlled contact session against the Varisty Cup outfit the Madibaz.

No score was recorded in the Madibaz match, and the Kings beat the Eagles 22-16 in George before going down 21-11 to the Cheetahs in a hard fought clash.

The Cheetahs scored their final try after the hooter when skipper Francois Venter went over to put the result beyond doubt in a rousing showdown.

Hopefully the Bulldogs and Eagles will provide stiff opposition to ensure the Kings are battle hardened for a tough opener against the Jaguares.

Border have already said they want the Kings to send their strongest team and this indicates they will be looking push the visitors as hard as possible.

The Stormers, who play the Kings in round three of the competition, have arranged pre-season fixtures against the Cheetahs in Harare (January 28), SWD in George (February 4) and the Lions at Newlands (February 11).

They square off with the Bulls in their first Super Rugby fixture on February 25 at Newlands.

Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck said he is satisfied with the strides his squad has made in the off-season, and they have embraced a new approach.

“In November we set ourselves some new challenges and some new goals. We needed to make a few changes in our set-up and the way we approach things,” Fleck said.

The Lions will play a warm-up match against a Barbarians team at Ellis Park‚ another against the Bulls in Harare as well as a game against the Stormers in Cape Town.

Several players will be invited to play for the Baabaas‚ but players from clubs such as Brakpan‚ Pretoria Police‚ Impala‚ Pirates and Raiders will also get opportunities to be measured against the Lions stars.