Kings regroup after Lions thrashing
IT was a case of licking their wounds and picking up the pieces when the EP Kings got back to business and returned to training at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday.
After being thrashed 60-19 by the Lions at Ellis Park, the Kings are now preparing for a trip to play the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
Training started later than scheduled yesterday and it can be assumed that the post mortem on the setback in Johannesburg lasted longer than expected.
Changes can also be expected to the starting line-up for the Bulls game when the Kings name their side today.
It is possible there might be a switch at scrumhalf with Jaco Grobler or Kevin Luiters starting in place of Tobie Botes.
There could also be a change at lock with Steven Sykes possibly starting and Darron Nell coming into the match squad.
After Saturday’s game against the Lions, Kings head coach Carlos Spencer said individual attitude and a lack of urgency let the EP Kings down badly.
Spencer and his coaching team of Shaun Sowerby (forwards) and Michael Horak (defence) will now bid to iron out those issues ahead of Saturday’s clash.
The good news for the Kings was that they came through the game relatively unscathed, despite earlier concerns that prop C J van der Linde might have torn his calf muscle towards the end of the game.
It was confirmed that Van der Linde had sustained a calf strain and would not be available for selection this week, and would be going for scans. However, the injury does not appear to be as severe as previously thought.
Ntabeni Dukisa will also not be considered for selection this week because of a knee injury sustained during the match against the Lions.
Concerns were raised about a bout of flu doing the rounds in the camp, with Dukisa and Aidon Davis both being treated.
Skipper Luke Watson is recovering from the flu that saw him miss the game on Saturday and is expected back today.
Flyhalf Gary van Aswegen was also rested during yesterday’s training, after a knock to the knee on Saturday, but the medical team said it was just swelling and the rest was precautionary.
The issue of defence must have been raised as the Kings coaches reflected on a game where they leaked nine tries against a rampant Lions team.
After defeats in their opening two games the Kings are bottom of the log and will need to find a remedy in a hurry.
“Individual attitude let us down especially on defence and one-on-one tackles, and we also lacked urgency. We will now go back to the drawing board, have a good look at the game and assess from there,” Spencer said after the Ellis Park setback.
The Kings struggled with their lineouts in Johannesburg. This is an area of the game they will need to improve on at Loftus.
Spencer said the team would assess and move on after the Lions defeat. It was important that the squad kept their chins up.
After the opening day 35-16 loss against Western Province in Port Elizabeth, Spencer showed faith in his team by originally naming an unchanged starting line-up for the Lions clash.
This weekend’s fixtures: Friday: Pumas v Griquas (Nelspruit). Saturday: Blue Bulls v EP Kings (Pretoria), Western Province v Golden Lions (Cape Town), Sharks v Free State Cheetahs (Durban).