Getting a chance
Bok three in Stormers pack to face Kings
Three Springboks have been named in the Stormers pack to face the Isuzu Southern Kings in a warm-up friendly clash in Knysna today.
With a high profile warmup clash against the Sharks looming at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Sunday, the Stormers have been presented with a selection challenge.
The Cape franchise will not be at full strength because Stormers coach John Dobson has said he will be playing a stronger team against the Sharks.
There are three Springboks in the forward pack that will run out in Knysna — captain and tighthead prop Frans Malherbe, hooker Bongi Mbonambi and lock Hilton Lobberts.
Lobberts will be joined by Godlen Masimla, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla and Ben-Jason Dixon in starting against the Kings and then travelling up to Soweto to feature on the replacements bench against the Sharks on Sunday.
“We do have the commitment to the Super Hero day and Siya Kolisi will be leading the side at the FNB Stadium,” Dobson said.
He said that while it had been a logistical challenge, this weekend would give his squad a good measure of where they stood a fortnight out from their opening game against the Hurricanes on February 1.
“This weekend will be a good physical and mental test for us as a group and I am looking forward to seeing how the players respond to the challenge.
“This is an important step and we hope to keep building towards the start of the season and that opening game at Newlands,” he said.
The warm-up game, which will be played at Loerie Park, affords Kings interim head coach Robbi Kempson an opportunity to fine-tune his plans for the Guinness PRO14 season.
For this game, however, assistant coach Vuyo Zangqa will take on the responsibilities of head coach.
After the Stormers clash, the Kings face a make-or-break PRO14 game against the Cheetahs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on January 25.
While the Kings already have eight PRO14 games under their belt, the Stormers are just starting what promises to be an arduous Super Rugby journey.
Like the Stormers, Kempson is also likely to rest some of his frontline players.
“One or two of the Kings players will be rested for this fixture in view of us doing extra
conditioning work going forward on the PRO14,” Kempson said.
“We will make a few positional switches for some guys, an example being Bader Pretorius (flyhalf) getting a go at inside centre.
“We will be taking 26 players to Knysna so we will take some fringe players to see how they have adapted to the way things have been going.
Southern Kings:
(Nos 1 to 15): Xandre Vos, Alandre van Rooyen, Rossouw de Klerk, Gideon van Niekerk, JC Astle (capt), Luyolo Dapula, Bobby de Wee, Lusanda Badiyana, Theo Maree, Bader Pretorius, Yaw Penxe, Tertius Kruger, Sibusiso Sithole, Christopher Hollis, Masixole Banda. Replacements: (Nos 16 to 26): Robin Stevens, Schalk Ferreira, IG Prinsloo, Aston Fortuin, Jerry Sexton, Riaan Olivier, Stefan Ungerer, Courtney Winnaar, JT Jackson, Edmund Ludik, Andell Loubser. Stormers (v Kings): 15 David Kriel, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Michal Hazner, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Johan du Toit, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Ben-Jason Dixon, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Frans Malherbe (captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 DJ Putter, 19 Ruan Laubser, 20 Hannes Gous, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Abner van Reenen, 23 Sihle Njezula, 24 Lyle Hendricks. Stormers (v Sharks): 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Thys Kitshoff, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 24 Seabelo Senatla, 25 Michal Hazner, 26 David Kriel.