The EP Kings team that will take on the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon has seen seven changes to the starting line up as well as three new additions to the bench.
EP Kings head coach, Carlos Spencer announced that the team will once again be captained by Steven Sykes.
Up front Martin Ferreira will make his Currie Cup debut at hooker, after Edgar Marutlulle was ruled out for two weeks with a shoulder injury that he sustained against the Blue Bulls on Friday night.
Tom Botha returns at tighthead prop, with CJ van der Linde moving to the bench.
Darron Nell comes up from the bench alongside Sykes at flank, to replace David Bulbring who is out for four weeks with an ankle injury.
Spencer has kept his loose forwards of Shaun Macdonald, Devin Oosthuizen and Paul Schoeman unchanged, with Kevin Luiters and Gary van Aswegen also keeping their spots at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively.
Ronnie Cooke moves from wing to outside centre alongside Shane Gates in place of Tim Whitehead who has a calf strain.
Siyanda Grey returns from a week off with the flu on right wing alongside Ntabeni Dukisa who joins him at left wing off the bench.
Siviwe Soyizwapi moves from wing to fullback, in place of Scott van Breda, who moves to the bench.
On the bench, Dwayne Jenner, Albe de Swardt and Steven Cummins join Stefan Willemse, Tobie Botes, Van der Linde and Van Breda.
“We really only wanted to make one change to the back line, but due to injuries, we have had to make a few additional changes,” he said.
Spencer said there were two new hookers, with Ferreira starting, saying they had both been working hard and deserved the opportunity.
Sykes said the Cheetahs were a quality side that had been playing in the Currie Cup for a long time.
“It’s the same this weekend as what it was for us in the previous six weeks. It’s going to be a massive challenge for us and we’re looking forward to that,” he said.
The game kicks off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 15h00 and will not be televised. Look out for the MyPE ticket giveaway where ten tickets to the game will be given away.
EP Kings Team:
- Starting Lineup: 15. Siviwe Soyizwapi, 14. Siyanda Grey, 13. Ronnie Cooke, 12. Shane Gates, 11. Ntabeni Dukisa, 10. Gary van Aswegen , 9. Kevin Luiters, 8. Paul Schoeman, 7. Devin Oosthuizen , 6. Shaun McDonald, 5. Darron Nell, 4. Steven Sykes (C), 3. Tom Botha, 2. Martin Ferreira, 1. Lizo Gqoboka
- Replacements: 16. Albe de Swardt, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Steven Cummins, 19. Stefan Willemse, 20. Tobie Botes, 21. Dwayne Jenner, 22. Scott van Breda
Alan Straton
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