Derby fever builds for Kings-Cheetahs showdown
SOUTH AFRICAN rugby derbies always have extra intensity and Saturday’s PRO14 showdown between the Southern Kings and Cheetahs will be no different.
Adding more spice and pre-match fever to the clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth is the fact that several Cheetahs players and coaches have strong Kings connections.
“Everyone is excited to challenge their skills against fellow South Africans,” Kings forwards coach Barend Pieterse said.
“It is important for us not to get caught up in the hype and that sort of stuff, but it is a natural thing. We are excited about the week.
“It is a bit of a short week because of the travel to Edinburgh, but it is the same for the Cheetahs, who have a day less than us to prepare. The guys are hungry for the game and teams lift themselves for these derbies. Even if you look at Super Rugby, when New Zealand or Australian sides play derbies it is usually one of the best games.
“It is the same with us. Knowing the guys at the Cheetahs, and the history we have, there will be good competition between the two sides.
“I think the Cheetahs will come here with a physical, dominating forward pack.
“But they have players like Makazole Mapimpi and Craig Barry who have that X-factor.
“I don’t think the Cheetahs will shy away from their strengths, which are their set phases. What they might attempt to do is pull us in and try to take us out wide.
“Especially now that Dave Williams, the former Kings Super Rugby assistant coach, is there – he brings a lot of experience. I think it will be an open game from their side.”
Hooker Michael Willemse, who captained the Kings at the start of the season, was back on the training field yesterday after recovering from a long-term injury.
Another new face was prop Dayan van der Westhuizen, who has returned to Port Elizabeth after playing for the Kings in Super Rugby. He is on loan from the Bulls.
Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan is another who has close connections to Port Elizabeth and played for the EP Kings and was head coach at Grey High before moving to the Free State.
Flying Cheetahs wing Mapimpi was one of the stars for the Southern Kings in Super Rugby last year, before he was signed up by the Cheetahs.
No fewer than seven players with Kings connections lined up for the Cheetahs when they played against Benetton Treviso in Italy last week. In recent times, Mapimpi, Shaun Venter, Paul Schoeman, Charles Marais, Junior Pokomela, Rynier Bernardo and Tom Botha have played for the Kings.
After Saturday’s showdown, the second derby is scheduled for Bloemfontein next Saturday.
The final encounter will be in Port Elizabeth on April 28.
After the Edinburgh clash, the Kings medical staff said flyhalf Kurt Coleman (knee) and prop Stefan Coetzee (back) were on the injury list.
The Kings will be missing fiery loose forward Andisa Ntsila against the Cheetahs, after he sustained a concussion during training ahead of the Edinburgh clash.
Locks Stefan Greeff and Bobby de Wee, who missed the trip to Scotland because of a rotational move, are expected to return to the starting lineup on Saturday.