Davids rallies troops to raise their game

CLARITY and composure will be needed on attack when the Southern Kings clash with Italian side Zebre at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday night.

That was the call from Kings coach Deon Davids when he looked ahead to facing an unpredictable Zebre outfit who lost 54-39 to the Cheetahs on Saturday.

Winless after Pro14 games against Scarlets, Connacht and Leinster, the Kings are determined to make homeground advantage count against the winless Italians.

“When we are in the opponents’ 22 the system is there. We just need to be accurate in our execution and just be a bit more patient,” said Davids.

“So I think our big focus will be about clarity and being more composed in our execution.

“In terms of our game against Leinster, we have made some step ups in certain areas in terms of what we asked for our setpieces, whether it was on attack or defence.

“In the second half we must understand that we are 23 players not 15 and everyone must contribute and ensure that we keep that momentum.”

Against Leinster the Kings were in the game at halftime when they trailed 7-3, but they were undone by three tries in 11 minutes just after the break.

“This will be a normal week in the build-up to the Zebre game. We will sit down and be specific and clear about addressing the areas we need to address,” the coach said.

“We will also look at our player staff in terms as to who is available and who is coming back and assess that. We will also have to study our opponents and we will take it from there.”

Asked when fans could see the best of the Kings, Davids said: “I am very realistic in terms of where we are. I am not sitting here making excuses.

“Everyone understands where we come from and the situation that we are in. We are three weeks together as a group as players and management and playing against well settled opposition.

“It is going to take us some time and I am quite aware of the challenges that we have to address. To address them all will take some time.

“I also feel there is some good things on which the players are responding very well to. We just have to be patient and build on those processes.”

Kings medical staff said yesterday that props Etienne Swanepoel and Rossouw de Klerk would be available for the Zebre clash.

The pair sat out for the match against Leinster after suffering head injuries against Connacht and failing their mandatory head injury assessments.

The Kings will name their team to face Zebre today.