Bezuidenhout to lead Kings against Border Bulldogs
FIERY hooker Martin Bezuidenhout will lead an experimental Southern Kings combination when they face the Border Bulldogs in a warm-up at East London’s Buffalo Stadium tomorrow.
The Kings have named a side packed with explosive runners and this should ensure a lively clash against an adventurous Border side keen to prove a point against the Super Rugby outfit.
While Bezuidenhout would lead the team tomorrow, Kings officials said, a final decision had yet to be made on a captain for the season.
All eyes will be on the pairing of scrumhalf Ricky Schroeder and flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa to see how they gel in the season opener.
Flyer Malcolm Jaer has been included on the wing and hardrunning Coyi Banda will be wearing the No 15 jersey for what promises to be a good early season test.
Kings head coach Deon Davids has said he would select two different teams for the warm-ups against Border and the SWD Eagles in Port Elizabeth on February 11.
“From now on, we will train in that format to build combinations and get clarity around our structures and systems.”
With only two warm-ups, game time will be a precious commodity for members of the Kings squad. Kings flank Onke Dubase has, meanwhile, warned his teammates that the Border Bulldogs will “bring it”.
Dubase will be keen to make the most of this opportunity to shine and boost his chances of nailing down a berth in the Kings’ lineup for the opening Super Rugby match against the Jaguares on February 24.
Dubase, who started playing for the Bulldogs in 2010, is excited about facing his former teammates.
“They are going to bring it,” he said. “They never shy away from physicality. The backline is just blitz and they are going to come hard.
“Most of them believe they are supposed to be playing Super Rugby.
“They will bring it so they can show that they do deserve the chance as well.
“It will be quite an emotional game for me, my first time playing against them. “I have to bring it as well.” Looking ahead to the possibility of playing in the opening Super Rugby clash, Dubase said: “It will all depend on how I do against the Border Bulldogs. I just have to pitch up for that game, no questions asked.
“It’s going to be a very intense game. I’ll be very basic, just sticking to the team structures and not do anything out of the ordinary.
“I will just have to trust my team and the structures.”
Davids called Dubase up to the Kings after the talented flanker impressed with numerous man-of-the-match accolades for the Bulldogs in their Currie Cup First Division campaign last year.
“I felt privileged and blessed to be part of the Southern Kings squad, and knew that I had to work hard to stay where I wanted to be,” Dubase said.
Kings team: Coyi Banda, Malcolm Jaer, Johann Tromp, Berton Klaasen, Yaw Penxe, Ntabeni Dukisa, Ricky Schroeder, Christiaan de Bruin, Thembelani Bholi, Onke Dubase, Cameron Lindsay, Wandile Putuma, Chris Heiberg, Martin Bezuidenhout (capt), Schalk van der Merwe. Reserves: Forwards: Kurt Haupt, Justin Forwood, Ross Geldenhuys, Irne Herbst, Mzwanele Zito, Tyler Paul, Andisa Ntsila. Backs: Johan Steyn, Garrick Mattheus, Waylon Murray, Makazole Mapimpi, Siyanda Grey, Chrysander Botha.