Kings coach geared up for Super Rugby start
EAGER Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids is itching for the new Super Rugby season to kick off next month.
Davids and his coaching panel returned to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this week to continue their preparations after a festive season break.
“Super Rugby is a tough and exciting competition and it is a privilege to be part of it. From the players to the management, we are all looking forward to this year’s competition. I can’t wait for that first game,” Davids said.
First up for the Kings is a tough opener against a Jaguares team that will be packed with Argentine test stars at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on February 25.
Before the Jaguares clash the Kings will play warm-up friendlies against Border in East London on February 4 and against the SWD Eagles in Port Elizabeth on February 11.
“The two friendlies will be all about ourselves,” Davids said.
“We have worked on certain things and obviously we are excited to see if we can play at a certain tempo and see what we have learnt from previous experiences.
“Hopefully, that will show on the field of play. I am excited to see some of the players who will have their first experience of Super Rugby and to see how certain combinations work.
“In the friendlies we will see where we are and what works and what we must still do.”
Davids is confident the team will reap the rewards of having a proper preseason. “We were fortunate to start earlier this time and we are much ahead in terms of where we were last season,” he said.
“The preseason has been challenging and interesting, and some of the guys were not used to the workload, but they all responded well.
“Overall, each individual progressed and got better as the preseason progressed. Super Rugby is played at a high intensity and the physical demands are high.
“We all know that the Kings struggled in the last 20 or 30 minutes last season because we did not have a preseason. But this year we have laid the foundation and if we continue to build on this we will be better conditioning wise.”
After their clash with the Jaguares the Kings will face the Sunwolves in Singapore on March 4.
Last year, the Kings could win only two of the 15 matches they played. The Southern Kings fixtures:
February 25: v Jaguares in PE; March 4: v Sunwolves in Singapore; March 11: v Stormers in PE; March 18: v Sharks in Durban; March 25: v Lions in PE; April 9: v Force in Perth; April 15: v Reds in Brisbane; April 22: v Waratahs in Sydney; April 29: v Rebels in PE; May 13: v Sharks in PE; May 20: v Brumbies in PE; May 28: v Lions in Johannesburg; June 30: v Jaguares in Buenos Aires; July 8: v Bulls in Pretoria; July 14: v Cheetahs in PE