Kings upbeat for Pro14
Tough start for debutants with champs Scarlets
DEFIANT head coach Deon Davids has vowed that his rebuilt Southern Kings will not take a backward step against Pro14 champions Scarlets in Llanelli today. It is the toughest start imaginable for a new-look Kings squad who are hoping to hit the ground running against a star-studded Scarlets outfit. Without even the luxury of a warmup match to finetune combinations, the hastily assembled Kings face a stern early examination of their Pro14 credentials. “There is enough talent in this Kings team,” Kings head coach Deon Davids said. “It is a question of being patient and we must not be afraid to show from the start that we are not scared to be in the competition.
“The Kings need to be spot on and focussed and be ready to face whatever comes to us. We must not be afraid to impose ourselves in terms of what we need to do.
“We will have that attitude of us playing the way that we want to play and also try to be clever in terms of our approach.
“It is going to be an 80 minute battle but we are in this now and we are excited to start and to see where we are.
“We will go into this game confident in terms of our abilities.
“Scarlets are the champion side. They have got strength all over in their team and they are a side who like to play with ball in hand.
“They are quite dangerous if you concede turnovers against them and they have got a good set piece,” Davids said.
Crucially, the Kings’ includes two players Pro14 experience.
They are loose-forward Dries van Schalkwyk (formerly with Zebre), and Rossouw de Klerk (formerly with Glasgow Warriors).
Without much match practice, the rebuilt Kings will have to dig deep if they want to match the battle-hardened Welsh outfit on foreign soil.
“Rugby games are not only won by ball in hand,” Davids said.
“The biggest challenge is our work rate, effort and intensity. Physicality without the ball will also be crucial for us.
“If everyone can up their physicality, mentality and the way they approach this game, in terms of their attitude, you are always in with a shout.”
Asked what he thought the strengths of the new-look Kings would be, Davids said: squad with also “We have some exciting players in the backline and also a lot of talent in the forwards.
“I would like to see a good balance between backs and forwards.
“I would encourage the guys to play the way we used to play.
“They must play towards where our pace is and make good decisions and recognise space.”
New Kings captain, Michael Willemse, said he felt honoured to be leading the team in their first Pro14 match.
“I’m lucky enough to have guys with a lot of experience and great leadership abilities around me who I can turn to if need be,” Willemse said.
“The guys have put in a lot of hard work and bought into some proper sessions to make sure we’ve ticked all the boxes. We feel ready.
“Well, I can certainly say that we’re going to go out there and give it our best shot.
“We’re excited to be here and to be able to compete but we want to perform.
“We’ve done our homework and preparation and hopefully that shows when we run out onto the pitch.
“The guys understand the great opportunity at hand and it’s driving us on,” Willemse said. Tonight’s teams: Southern Kings Schalk Ferreira, Michael Willemse (capt), Rossouw de Klerk, Jurie van Vuuren, Dries van Schalkwyk, Khaya Majola, Victor Sekekete, Andisa Ntsila, Rudi van Rooyen, Kurt Coleman, Sibusiso Sithole, Luzuko Vulindlu, Berton Klaasen, Yaw Penxe, Masixole Banda. Replacements: Stephan Coetzee, Luvuyo Pupuma, Entienne Swanepoel, Bobby de Wee, Siyabulela Mdaka, Godlen Masimla, Ntabeni Dukisa, Jacques Nel. Scarlets: Still to be named. Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland). The match will be shown live on SS1 at 6.30pm.