Kings up for big challenge – Whitehead
will have to be on our toes.
“Rugby is a team game and with Cheslin Kolbe on the outside, they have been pretty devastating in the past.
“So we will have to keep our eyes open for guys like that, but we have been working hard on our defence and hopefully we can bring it to Western Province on Friday,” Whitehead said.
“In the past year they have been trying to grow their attack and the Western Province defence has also been good. These are things we are going to look at and take very seriously.
Hopes are high that with the backing of a big home crowd the Kings can make a winning start to what will be a tough campaign against the best sides in South Africa.
“There are no easy games in the Currie Cup so it will be tough out there and it will be EP’s first for a couple of years. But we are really looking forward to the challenge and having a good crack at Western Province.”
Western Province have named a strong team for the trip to Port Elizabeth and lock Eben Etzebeth will take the field for the first time in nine months.
Eight of the 22-man WP squad for the clash will be making their Currie Cup debuts against EP, although wings Kobus van Wyk and Seabelo Senatla, lock Manuel Carizza, and prop Alistair Vermaak have played Super Rugby for the Stormers.
Asked whether his team could go all the way to the final, skipper Luke Watson said: “I would not say it is impossible, but I would say that it would be a very big challenge and we would have to perform at optimal level. But nothing is impossible and I have seen stranger things happen.
“At this level any team can win on their day. Our main focus is on Western Province on Friday night but we are open to anything happening.”
EP’s skipper said his team were fully committed to the big challenge that lay ahead over the next 10 weeks.
“I am pretty confident the guys will go out there and perform to the best of their ability. There are always going to be mistakes and issues of unforced errors and things like that.
“But ultimately I do not think it will be a question of commitment. The boys will be up for it,” Watson said.