EUROPEAN WIN WHETS KINGS’ APPETITE
Clash with Connacht a chance to take confidence into new year
A first overseas win has whet the appetite of the Isuzu Southern Kings for more success on the road, Kings captain Howard Mnisi said.
After narrowly beating the Ospreys in Wales, the Kings have another chance to scalp European opposition when they face Connacht in Ireland on November 30.
This will be the Kings’ final Guinness PRO14 game in 2019 before they play Edinburgh in Scotland on January 4.
“The intensity that the guys are training at during our break after the Ospreys game shows just how hungry the boys are, specially after the win we got,” Mnisi said.
“There is a bit of hunger and confidence, and we all acknowledge that it is the final game of the year, and we are excited about it.
“After the Connacht game we will have another break and opportunity to grow as a team, before we play Edinburgh.
“Then we will prep hard and training hard for next year.
“If you look at our squad, it is a group of youngsters coming from Varsity Cup and stuff like that.
“On our three match tour of Europe they gained a lot of experience, even though we did not get all the results we wanted over the first six games.
“Being part of a group outside the country and getting a first win is immense for us.
“Now we have actually something to look back on. We can say that we managed to do that overseas with our young squad.
“You gain confidence and get a bit of pleasure out of that.”
Mnisi says the Kings realise the win over the Ospreys was not pleasing on the eye.
“It was not great or an awesome win. It was a scrappy win.
“But those are the kind of wins that we need at the moment to build and progress as a group.
“The focus is on ourselves rather than on Connacht. But we do acknowledge that we play against internationals and very talented sides.
“But our focus is on solely our progression in this competition and how we improve every day. Also how we gel as a team in terms of how we are as human beings, first. Because that is important. If we are good human beings that will always translate on to the field.
“We are headed in the right direction at the moment.”
Mnisi said he stumbled into the role of captain for the Ospreys clash.
“I stumbled on it. I got called up from SA after recovering from a calf injury, and suddenly I was captain.
“At the time I did not even know I was the first Kings captain to win in the PRO14.
“For me it was a matter of just grinding it out.”
“For me any win overseas, whether it is in Super Rugby or PRO14, it is huge.
“There are not a lot of groups of players who have gone overseas and won games. It was an honour to lead the guys out, and it was a memorable day for them. It was an immense event, and I can’t really express what it means to me.
“The focus was on the team, and I had so many guys to help me lead. We have a great group of gents who lead in their various positions.”
For me any win overseas, whether it is in Super Rugby or PRO14, it is huge