Mission of redemption for Kings
Lions will be tough call in the Bay battle
ADVENTUROUS running rugby could be on the cards when the Southern Kings get to grips with the Lions in a Super Rugby showdown at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3.05pm).
The Kings, energised by their fighting showing against the Sharks in Durban, will be keen to put on a show for their home fans before they embark on a threeweek tour to Australia.
Almost 10 000 fans watched their last home game against the Stormers and the Kings will be looking for an even bigger turnout as they bid to tame last year’s beaten Super Rugby finalists.
By the same token the Lions will arrive in Port Elizabeth ready to roar after demolishing the Reds 44-14 in their last outing at Ellis Park.
“We need to be up there on Saturday because we are playing one of the best teams in the competition,” Kings head coach Deon Davids said.
“The Lions are a very talented team no matter who they field and they play the game at a massive tempo. We need to be switched on from the start and it is a game where we need to take to them and give everything.
“If we look at the game against the Sharks we had a tendency to kick the ball away where maybe we could have held onto it.
“In this game we will look forward to see more of holding onto the ball. I hope we get a big crowd and the boys really live from their support.
“The Kings will see if we can improve more and play more of a game that the people like.”
When they went down 19-17 against the Sharks, the Kings came tantalisingly close to clinching their first win over South African opponents in Super Rugby.
Gaining that elusive maiden victory, however, will not be easy against a Lions outfit who are packed with explosive players who are lethal when given front foot ball.
The Lions ran in seven tries against the Reds to emphasise their prowess with ball in hand.
There were two tries for the Kings in Durban, and Davids will want an even bigger tally of five pointers against the Lions.
The players who got over the whitewash for the Kings in Durban were hard-working loose-forward Ruaan Lerm and flying wing Makazole Mapimpi.
The Lions are likely to be without utility back Jaco van der Walt‚ prop Johannes Jonker and centre Lionel Mapoe, but they will still be formidable opponents.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann said, depending on the injuries, some players may be rested against the Kings.
“Some players I do believe can do with some game time, but there are one or two positions we are looking to freshen up,” said Ackermann.
“That is not saying we want to weaken the side and we believe in any the player who will come in. If he is good enough he could have played already. But we will reassess, and must look at our injuries.
“Is it worth risking a player with whatever we want to do? But again, you can’t underestimate the Kings.
“They will be tough at home, and we need to go down there and get a result.”
The Kings will name their team to face the Lions today.