Mpimpi edges closer to exit

Rudolph Jacobs

Nobody could really blame flying Cheetahs wing Makazole Mpimpi if he takes a really good look at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth this afternoon.

Mpimpi features in his penultimate game for the Cheetahs in their Pr014 clash against the Kings, but it’s here where it all started for the winger who first made his mark in PE after he joined them from the Bulldogs a few seasons back.

But next weekend in Bloemfontein, Mpimpi plays in his final game for the Cheetahs before joining the Sharks.

But for the Cheetahs it won’t be plain sailing despite the Kings’ winless record in the competition as they have pushed a few teams close especially at home in PE.

A few of the Cheetahs attacking teeth have also been pulled with captain Francois Venter ruled out after a knock to his neck and shoulder last week, while William Small-Smith is out for three months with a knee injury.

Venter, however, will only miss about two weeks of action which saw the captaincy returning to hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld after last weekend’s 27-21 defeat to Benetton in Treviso.

The Kings have made some significant changes in search of their first win with a new halfback combination selected in flyhalf Oliver Zono, who replaced former Stormer Kurt Coleman, who is out with a leg injury.

At scrumhalf Rowan Gouws gets promoted to the starting lineup replacing Poerie van Rooyen who will start the game from the bench.

Kings coach Deon Davids has also decided to add more firepower and squad rotation to his middle row with locks Bobby de Wee and Stephan Greeff who were rested in last weekend’s 37-7 loss to Edinburgh in Scotland.

Kick-off: 5pm.