Kings go into action without Davids
Coach to link up with his men for remaining games
INDISPOSED Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids will be watching his team on television when they face Ulster in a Pro14 showdown in Belfast tonight.
Though Davids did not fly with the team to Ireland on Monday because of undisclosed medical reasons, it had been hoped that he would join them later in the week.
Kings officials confirmed yesterday Davids would not be at the game, but he is still expected to join up with the side for their remaining tour matches against the Ospreys and Leinster.
Davids is known for his passionate pre-match motivational talks to the team, and this will be missed in the Kings dressingroom.
Forwards coach Barend Pieterse will be in charge of the Kings at Kingspan Stadium where temperatures are expected to plummet to below zero tonight.
When he named his team for the three-match European tour, Davids felt that his squad was closing in on an elusive first win after 13 consecutive defeats.
Davids predicted that it will be like fighting in the trenches against an injury-ravaged Ulster side.
Skipper Michael Willemse echoed his coach’s words when he said the Kings were targeting Ulster after his side came close to toppling the Irish outfit in Port Elizabeth last year.
There has also been a coaching upheaval at Ulster, with head coach Jono Gibbes assuming responsibility for all coaching matters after the departure of Les Kiss (director of rugby).
In the first round, Ulster had to score a late flurry of tries to edge the Kings in a dramatic match in Kwazakhele.
The Irish side scored seven tries to five to run out winners, but they were made to sweat.
After their match against Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium, the Kings then face the Ospreys (February 16) and Leinster (February 23) on their European tour.
“We are going to work very hard to get the results on this tour and the players and drivers in the team have sat down and looked at what they want to achieve as a collective and as individuals,” said Davids.
“We are going all out to give our utmost best. It is going to be like fighting in the trenches and I think the boys will put their heads down and they are determined to get a result.
“We know we will play against quality opposition, but we have shown in our recent games that there were passages of play where we showed more belief, patience and accuracy.
“I’m confident that if we keep fighting doing the right on the right stuff and working hard that first win is not far away.
“Everyone is fit and ready to go and we have worked very hard over the past few weeks. The guys who are in the squad know how important this tour is as we enter the final stages of the tournament.
“I only want to see action now, and we have to put works into action. I like to quote the saying of Muhammad Ali, where he says you can talk the talk but you must start to walk the walk,” said Davids.
After their Champions Cup exit at Wasps, Ulster will be anxious for a winning performance against the Kings.
The Kings will select their team from the following players:
Schalk Ferreira, Michael Willemse (capt), Pieter Scholtz, Stephan Greeff, Bobby de Wee, Andisa Ntsila, Martinus Burger, Ruaan Lerm, Rowan Gouws, Martin du Toit, Anthonie Volmink, Luzuko Vulindlu, Berton Klaasen, Michael Makase, Yaw Penxe, Johan Smith, Stephan Coetzee, Tango Balekile, Luvuyo Pupuma, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Jurie van Vuuren, Lindokuhle Welemu, Eital Bredenkamp, Godlen Masimla, JP Smith, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Harlon Klaasen, Masixole Banda.