Kings plan to turn tables on Cheetahs
UNBOWED after being stitched up after a bruising first-leg defeat, Southern Kings lock enforcer Stephan Greeff still believes his team can turn the tables on the Cheetahs in Saturday’s return clash.
In the first of the back-to-back South African derbies, the Kings slumped to a 45-21 defeat against the Free Staters at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
After the clash, Greeff had to have stitches to a cut above his eye, but is available for the trip to Bloemfontein and did not suffer a concussion.
Though it was their 12th consecutive loss, it has not dampened 28-year-old Greeff’s belief that the struggling Kings could topple the Free Staters.
“It is never easy playing in Bloemfontein and we are expecting a tough game. We know what we did wrong in the first game and we are working hard in training to fix our mistakes,” Greeff said.
“We can definitely turn things around in Bloemfontein. The Kings had a chance in Port Elizabeth at the end. We should have controlled things better and registered some points.”
The Kings failed to hammer home their advantage after the Cheetahs were reduced to 13 men in the final 10 minutes on Saturday.
Despite having two men yellow-carded by referee Stuart Berry, the Cheetahs managed to score two late tries to clinch victory.
“We are working on our detail and we must get that right. The coaches give us a plan and we must execute that plan. “That is when things will get better. “The Kings will be keeping a closer watch on the front of the lineouts this time. On Saturday, we were more worried about what they would do in the middle and at the back at the lineouts.
“We messed up a few lineouts, but we are working on our mistakes.”
Greeff represented the EP Country Districts side at the 2007 U18 Academy Week competition before moving to Cape Town to join Western Province.
He played for the Western Province U19 side in 2008 and for the Western Province U21 side in 2009 and 2010.
In 2011, he also made a single appearance for the Maties in the Varsity Cup.
He made his senior debut for Western Province in the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a late substitute in their match against the Boland Cavaliers.
Greeff joined Johannesburg-based side the Lions in 2012, where he was immediately included in their Super Rugby side.
The burly lock made his Super Rugby debut in the second match of the Lions’ 2012 Super Rugby season, starting their match against the Hurricanes.
Greeff made one more start against the Bulls as well as three substitute appearances before moving on to the Leopards and Griquas.
The 1.97m tall lock then joined the Nelspruit-based Pumas for the 2016 season and played 16 games for them before joining the Kings.
Kings head coach Deon Davids will name his team to face the Cheetahs today.