INDIA OBSESS OVER FAMOUS WIN
Star players back from lengthy injury payoffs
Ashwin makes sudden reappearance on team list
We are happy to be back in action after a good break
Desperate to pull themselves up by their bootstraps after a poor start to their Guinness PRO14 campaign, the Isuzu Southern Kings have been given a muchneeded player boost.
Back in Kings squad for their clash against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday are hooker Michael Willemse, centre Berton Klaasen, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius and flyhalf Martin du Toit.
The return of several players from injury will hopefully provide the Kings with a new cutting edge.
Pretorius joined the Kings from the Newport-based Dragons last March, but has not played for them yet because of a foot injury sustained during training
The other scrumhalves in the Kings’ 25-man touring squad are Stefan Ungerer and Rudi van Rooyen.
When the Kings were pipped 22-19 by Benetton Treviso in their last game of 2018, Masixole Banda moved from fullback to flyhalf in the place of Du Toit, who sustained a knee injury against Connacht.
The Kings, who resumed training on December 27, flew to Scotland on Wednesday and will only have a captain’s run in Edinburgh on Friday in preparation for the match.
It has proved to be tough for the Kings in PRO14 this season, and they have only a solitary win behind their names after 10 outings.
“We are happy to be back in action after a good year-end break which came at a good time for the team to recuperate and return rejuvenated for the New Year,” Kings head coach Deon Davids said.
“One of the positives from the break is that we have had the opportunity to get some of our players back from injury,” Davids said.
“We are really pleased to have the experienced Sarel Pretorius, who was unfortunate to sustain a foot injury ahead of the start of the season, and Mikey Willemse, whom we lost quite early on in the season to a shoulder injury.
“We also have Berton Klaasen back after he missed our last match in 2018 due to a leg injury, while Alandre van Rooyen has recovered from a concussion.”
The Kings have also been bolstered with the inclusion of former Springbok prop, Robbi Kempson, as the side’s forwards consultant until the end of the season.
Kempson will also be travelling with the team as they hope to continue improving in the set pieces for the remainder of the season.
The former Bok prop played overseas during his career and his input will prove invaluable in testing European conditions.
The Kings squad:
Forwards: Nicolaas “NJ” Oosthuizen, Alulutho Tshakweni, Pieter Scholtz, Luvuyo Pupuma, Tango Balekile, Alandre van Rooyen, Michael Willemse, Lubabalo “Giant” Mtyanda, Stephan Greeff, JohnCharles “JC” Astle, Andries “Dries” van Schalkwyk, Cyril-John “CJ” Velleman, Martinus “Tienie” Burger, Ruaan Lerm. Backs: Stefan Ungerer, Rudi van Rooyen, Sarel Pretorius, Martin du Toit, Ntabeni Dukisa, Tertius Kruger, Harlon Klaasen, Berton Klaasen, Yaw Penxe, Michael Makase, Masixole Banda.