Kings shed the whipping boys tag with victory
at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium WITH their first and deserved win of the season, the Southern Kings have transferred their Super Rugby junk status to the Sunwolves.
This was their first victory since their 34-27 triumph against the Highlanders on May 11 2013 and like that night it was their defence that did the trick.
The defence soaked up immense pressure in the second half and like Andy DuFresne crawling through the sewage tunnel while escaping from Shawshank prison, they came out clean on the other side.
This match was always going to be won by the team with the better defence but at times they tried to outdo themselves with defensive ineptitude. Mark Hammett’s side could not deal with the Kings’ structured phase play when they got it right.
When Sunwolves playmaker Tusi Pisi got his backs going, it was a rerun of the Kings’ frazzled and headless chicken defence witnessed in their two-match tour of New Zealand.
It allowed the Japanese franchise a way back whenever the Kings tried to get away and kept the half-time deficit to three points.
The Sunwolves may not be a bluechip unit but they are good enough to take advantage of 12 missed tackles in the first half especially with an accomplished general like Pisi pulling the strings. However, they missed 10 to even the scales but these statistics lessened significantly in the tighter second stanza.
The wind whipped up a serious frenzy as the empty red seats were a serious eyesore. They were symptomatic of the administrative problems plaguing the beleaguered franchise.
It’s hard enough watching a losing team but it takes a special kind of supporter to brave the elements and watch a team that cannot get its onfield and administrative act together. Such was the velocity of the wind, the tent flaps that formed part of the stadium roof rippled. It had a marked effect as the sides kicked sparingly while opting to go through the phases.
The 393 metres the teams went through was indicative of their willingness to keep the ball. However, bad kicks often lead to tries, which was the case when Steven Sykes crashed over in the third minute.
The Kings could have scored a minute earlier if Jurgen Visser’s knee didn’t kiss the touchline while trying to haul himself over the line.
The try had its origins from a peculiar Pisi cross-kick from a scrum that went out directly, from where Deon Davids’ side exposed the Sunwolves’ lack of intent and physicality on defence.
Nippy winger Malcolm Jaer then finished off a wonderful move sealed by a lovely inside pass from Shane Gates in the 17th minute.
Like angry hornets, the visitors were stung into action and responded with tries from captain Shota Horie and Pisi in the 23rd and 25th minutes to level the score at 15-all. They exposed the Kings’ inability to defend the wide channels effectively, which was also the case when Timothy Bond crossed over on the stroke of half time.
The Kings’ other first-half try came from inside centre Gates in the 33rd minute, when he capitalised on some messy breakdown work to snaffle a loose ball and sprint 55m.
The second half had the fluency of an earthworm trying to burrow in drying mud as the first half’s attacking exertions took its toll.
Pisi and Louis Fouche exchanged penalties as they both endured a difficult evening from the kicking tee. The howling wind had a lot to do with this while the hosts took to the scrum like a fat man at a Christmas table in the first half while the boot was on the other foot in the second 40 minutes.
It was also a period in which the Kings saw little possession but showed a newfound defensive commitment while weathering a fierce storm.
Their passion was summed up by Gates’ crunching tackle on Harumichi Tatekawa, leaving the outside centre sprawled like a floored boxer on the manicured surface.
Their defensive efforts were deservedly rewarded when replacement Elgar Watts crashed over in the 79th minute after taking advantage of a strong scrum.
Akihito Yamada responded with a quick try a minute later but the donkey work was done. ALL HAIL THE KINGS: Winger Malcolm Jaer, left, of the Southern Kings celebrates with teammate Shane Gates after scoring a try during their Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday