KINGS TO FACE THE HEAT IN SINGAPORE
Team set for heat and humidity challenges, says centre Klaasen
THE heat and humidity of Singapore will test the Southern Kings when they face the Sunwolves on Saturday (kickoff 12.55pm), says centre Berton Klaasen. Having lost their opening match against the Jaguares, the pressure is on the Kings to overcome a Sunwolves side who are ranked as one of Super Rugby’s weakest sides.
“I have been to New Zealand and Australia, but this is my first game in Singapore,” Klaasen said.
“I have been told that whatever humidity you find in Durban you can times by five in Singapore, so we are expecting a slippery ball.”
The 27-year-old Klaasen made his Super Rugby debut against the Jaguares in Nelson Mandela Bay last week.
“I was very excited and it was a huge honour to play my first Super Rugby game,” he said.
“It was a long journey for me to get my first Super Rugby cap.”
The other Kings players on debut were wing Makazole Mapimpi and the lock pairing of Irne Herbst and Mzwanele Zito.
The hard-running centre believes nerves may have got the better of the Kings at the start of their opening game.
“We believed from the get-go we could do it, but maybe the okes were a bit nervous because it was the first game. Maybe nerves got the best of us in the beginning,” he said.
“The team had a serious meeting after the game. We are still positive we can achieve in this year’s tournament.
“We have to look after the ball more and that is what we will try do this week against the Sunwolves.”
Klaasen said there would be no complacency in the Kings camp, even though the Japanese outfit were hammered 83-17 by the Hurricanes in their first game.
“There are no easy games in Super Rugby. We must play well and we are all excited about the challenge.
“We reviewed the Jaguares match and we made some silly mistakes we can fix. The team are positive and we believe we can pull it through.”
The Kings are expected to name their team today from a 25-man touring squad.
Fullback Chrysander Botha has been axed from the Kings tour squad and a revamped team could take to the field. The Kings also travelled to Singapore without lock Herbst, who sustained a concussion against the Jaguares.
The Kings medical staff said the lock would be out of action for a week.
The Kings squad: Forwards: Schalk Ferreira (captain), Martin Bezuidenhout, Thembelani Bholi, Chris Cloete, Justin Forwood, Ross Geldenhuys, Kurt Haupt, Chris Heiberg, Ruaan Lerm, Andisa Ntsila, Tyler Paul, Schalk van der Merwe, Michael Willemse, Stefan Willemse, Mzwanele Zito Backs: Masixole Banda, Lionel Cronje, PieterSteyn de Wet, Malcolm Jaer, Berton Klaasen, Makazole Mapimpi, Waylon Murray, Louis Schreuder, Rudi van Rooyen, Luzuko Vulindlu