Kings all set to put the boot in
Strauss plans kicking strategy against Bulls
SOUTHERN Kings skipper Andries Strauss says it is vital his team match the Bulls’ “finely tuned” kicking game when the sides meet in a Super 15 clash at Loftus Versveld tomorrow.
“The Bulls have always had a good kicking game and in Morné Steyn they have one of the best kicking flyhalves in the world,” Strauss warned.
Steyn will start on the bench and talented Louis Fouche gets a chance to start for the top-placed team in the South African conference. It is only Fouche’s second start of the season and he will be keen to show he is an able understudy to Steyn.
“We are expecting the same from them in Pretoria and playing at altitude the ball travels a bit further and they will use that to their advantage,” said Strauss.
“But, having said that, it is a challenge we must and can match. If we can match their kicking game by playing in the right part of the field it would then come down to a physical confrontation.
“If the boys can stand up to that then we can expect a good game of rugby,” said Strauss.
Kings pivot Demetri Catrakilis has been in fine form this season and his kicking out of hand will be vital if the Kings are to stand their ground against the star-studded Bulls.
Asked about the explosive attacking qualities of young Bulls stars Jan Serfontein and J J Engelbrecht (who starts on the bench), Strauss said: “Jan Serfontein is a unique player and he showed his talent throughout his school career. He was always going to play for the Springboks.
“Engelbrecht is also one of those players who has no regard for his body and plays hard every week. Those boys are young and fast and combine well.
“So you have two young guys coming up against two older experienced guys in Ronnie Cooke and myself. Hopefully our experience will count for something at Loftus.”
After the Bulls match, the Kings round off their Super Rugby season with a home game against the Stormers and Sharks before a two-legged promotion-relegation showdown against the Lions.
“It is always good to go to Loftus because it is one of the best known venues in South Africa and sets a massive challenge for any side that goes there.
“The boys are keen to go to Loftus and show what they are worth. There are many challenges lying ahead of us in the last part of the season and it will be good to get a bit of confidence from this game.” said Strauss.
The Kings skipper said his team took a lot out of the 34-0 loss to the Bulls earlier in the season in Port Elizabeth.
“There were some areas of that game we were not accurate in and that cost us dearly.
“We have learnt from those mistakes and hopefully we can execute well at Loftus and play on the right side of the field and get a better result than we did in Port Elizabeth.”
Southern Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons said the mood in the team’s camp was “extremely positive” ahead of the trip to Pretoria.
“The guys really needed a break during the international window. The break has done them the world of good and they fully deserved the two weeks off.
“They have come back fresh with a spring in their step. The way that the end of our season structured is not bad at all.
“The Kings have three tough South African derbies, but then there is a bye before the promotionrelegation games,” said Solomons.