Luke cries sick again
HOPES that the return of captain Luke Watson would add a vital X-factor to the Eastern Province Kings’ allround play were dashed when he was forced to pull out of tonight’s Vodacom Cup match against a Sharks XV due to a bout of flu.
Watson was due to have his first run on start since August, when he suffered concussion at Loftus Versfeld which forced him to miss the last seven games of the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Tonight’s game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is the Kings’ last match in the competition, because they failed to make the playoffs after managing only two wins in their previous six matches.
Watson started from the bench in the EP Kings’ previous two matches against the Eagles and Boland and he had been excited at the prospect of having his first run on start tonight.
Apart from Watson, bustling No 8 Tim Agaba has also been laid low by the flu bug, resulting in the Kings’ pack being reshuffled.
Watson will be replaced on the side of the scrum by Thembelani Bholi and Paul “Tier” Schoeman takes the place of Agaba.
Prop Simon Kerrod failed a late fitness test and Springbok CJ van der Linde moves up from the bench to take his place.
Centre Tim Whitehead will be the Kings’ captain.
Poor campaigns by both the Kings and the Sharks XV have left them out of the running for a berth in the playoffs and it might be the incentive to play an expansive brand of running rugby tonight.
Included in the Sharks team is former Kings and Samoan star Paul Perez, who will pose a big threat with his explosive runs down the touchline.
Tonight’s clash also marks the return of the Sharks’ Currie Cup captain Tera Mtembu for his first outing since his major injury.
Tonight’s teams: EP Kings: Siviwe Soyizwapi, Siyanda Grey, Ronnie Cooke, Tim Whitehead (capt), Luther Obi, Hansie Graaff, Jaco Grobler, Paul Schoeman, Stefan Willemse, Thembelani Bholi, Cornell Hess, Tazz Fuzani, CJ van der Linde, Edgar Marutlulle, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: Michael van Vuuren, Enoch Mnyaka, David Bulbring, Eital Bredenkamp, Enroco Acker, Sphu Msutwana, Scott van Breda. Sharks XV: Garth April, Paul Perez, Paul Jordaan, Marius Louw, Tonderai Chavhanga, Heimar Williams, Hanco Venter, Tera Mtembu, Johan Meyer, Khaya Majola, Jean Drotse, Christiaan de Bruin, Marne Coetzee, Monde Hadebe (captain), Barend Potgieter. Replacements: Johan Erasmus, Mthunzi Moloi, Sias Koen, Francois Kleinhans, Cameron Wright, Sandile Kubeka, Alcino Izaacs. Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni. Kick-off: 7pm.