‘Giant’ to add power to Kings
Sharks lock Mtyanda on loan for Super Rugby
POWERFUL enforcer lock Lubabalo “Giant” Mtyanda has arrived in Port Elizabeth on trial from the Sharks to add extra grunt to the Southern Kings’ pack in Super Rugby.
The towering 1.99m tall forward trained with the Kings yesterday, but is unlikely to be considered for selection for Saturday’s match against the Sharks in Durban.
Other newcomers on the training field on trial were scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer (Sharks), centre Stokkies Hanekom (Lions) and scrumhalf Bangi Kobese (Border Bulldogs).
“We felt we were short in a few positions and we had injuries at lock and scrumhalf. So we have players on loan coming in,” Kings forward coach Barend Pieterse said.
“‘Giant’ joins us from the Sharks and he is coming back from an injury and was not playing there at the moment. It is more about getting some depth for us where we had one or two concussions.
“‘Giant’ gives a lot of input so it is good to have a bit of outside experience coming in to us.
“The one thing in the team, specially in the forward pack, is that we need some grunt.
“Last year we were lucky to have a guy like Stephen Sykes at lock. The Kings have inexperienced players, especially at lock. They are doing well, but you will never say no to a bit of grunt, specially in your tight five.
“That is why we are looking to bring in players, because locks Wandile Ptuma and Sintu Manjezi were injured last week.
“They only started their first field session today. That is why we had to look at someone else to give us some depth,” Pieterse said.
Born in Port Elizabeth Mtyanda, 30, started his career coming through the youth ranks at the Mighty Elephants (now EP Kings) and made his debut for them in the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition against Western Province.
He joined the Golden Lions later in the same year, where he represented their U21 team.
Mtyanda joined the SWD Eagles at the start of 2009, where he quickly established himself as a regular, making over 50 appearances for the George-based union.
In 2013, he joined the Pumas prior to the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season.
The lock was also included in a South Africa President’s team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup and won the tournament after winning all three matches.
Meanwhile, centre Luzuko Vulindlu, who sustained a concussion against the Stormers, is the only casualty from last weekend’s match.
The 29-year-old will go through the normal concussion protocol which requires a compulsory one week’s rest.
Vulindlu will therefore be unavailable for selection and will miss the clash with his former side in Durban.
However, lock Mzwanele Zito and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder are back at training this week.
The pair sustained concussions against the Sunwolves in Singapore and will likely be available for selection this week should they get through their return to play protocol.
On the long-term injury list, flanker C J Velleman continues to make good progress with his knee rehabilitation and is expected back at training in April.
Lock Cameron Lindsay is doing well with his rehabilitation of his injured left knee which has ruled him out for 12 weeks.
Team doctor Konrad von Hagen is pleased with the progress being made by scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen. The scrumhalf sustained an ankle injury in the match against the Sunwolves and required surgery in Pretoria last week.
Van Rooyen will be out of action for up to 12 weeks.