It’s backs to the wall for Kings
AS has been the case so often this season, the winless Southern Kings will find themselves with their backs to the wall when they face Edinburgh at the Myreside Stadium in Scotland tonight.
When the teams met at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth last month, the Kings went down 48-21 after three late tries allowed the Scottish outfit to surge out of sight.
That was the Kings’ 10th consecutive defeat and left them anchored to the bottom of the PRO14 log.
By contrast, Edinburgh have chalked up seven wins from 12 outings and want to mount a serious challenge for the playoffs.
It has been a difficult start to life in the PRO14 for the Kings, who can expect a tough test on a midwinter Scottish evening with temperatures close to freezing.
After the Edinburgh defeat, Kings coach Deon Davids said his team went flat after they had still been in the game at half time.
“Our fundamental skills were poor at times, and there were too many basic errors that let us down,” Davids said.
“When we were on attack we lost the ball in contact, or there was a simple pass that went to ground.
“If you look at their team, I think there were just not so many mistakes, and they kept the ball well.
“You cannot play rugby without the ball. If you give the opposition so much opportunity, it will cost you,” Davids said.
He is hoping new blood and eager fresh legs will trigger a new year revival for his team tonight.
Among the absentees in the touring party to Scotland is fiery loose forward Andisa Ntsila, ruled out after sustaining a concussion during training.
Davids said the decision to leave locks Stefan Greeff and Bobby de Wee out of the squad had been taken to manage their workload.
“Those two have been grafting extremely hard in our previous encounters and will return for the Cheetahs game,” Davids said.
“We have chosen Jurie van Vuuren and Lindokuhle Welemu to replace them, and they will be determined to prove themselves.
Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill said his team would not underestimate the Kings.
“The Southern Kings are a dangerous side in attack, and they will be well-rested, having had a few weeks’ break over the festive period.
“It’ll be a tough game, but we’re looking forward to getting back to Myreside and putting in a good performance, and one that keeps us looking up the table.” Tonight’s teams: Southern Kings: Ntabeni Dukisa; Yaw Penxe, Berton Klaasen, Martin du Toit, Alshaun Bock; Kurt Coleman, Rudi van Rooyen; Schalk Ferreira (capt), Stephan Coetzee, Rossouw de Klerk; Jurie van Vuuren, Dries van Schalkwyk; Eitel Bredenkamp, Martinus Burger, Ruaan Lerm. Replacements: Tango Balekile, Njabulo Gumede, Pieter Scholtz, Lindokuhle Welemu, Freddy Ngoza, Gouws Rowan/Godlen Masimla, Harlon Klaasen, Masixole Banda. Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Nathan Fowles, 1 Jordan Lay, 2 Stuart McInally (capt), 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Ben Toolis, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Cornell du Preez. Replacements: 16 Cameron Fenton, 17 Elliot Millar-Mills, 18 Matt Shields, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Viliame Mata, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Chris Dean, 23 Damien Hoyland. Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland).