Isuzu Southern Kings loose-forward, Lusanda Badiyana, will captain the side when they take on Munster in a Round 2 Guinness PRO14 clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, 5 October.
While the 23-year-old will be leading the team for the first time in PRO14 Rugby, the role will not be a new one him after having captained the team in a pre-season fixture against World Cup side, Namibia, last month.
Badiyana takes over the captaincy from lock, JC Astle, who will be out of action this week following a stomach ailment.
The East London-born former Cambridge High School head boy will lead a side with three changes to the forwards pack and another four in the backline.
“Lusanda is a natural choice for captain with JC not being considered in view of medical reasons. Lusanda is a natural leader and is part of our leadership group, and has done so from Under-19 level,” said interim Head Coach, Robbi Kempson.
“So it is a natural progression after also captaining the side against Namibia, where he did a good job. I think he is a leader that can take this team forward.”
Loosehead prop, Juan Schoeman, who is on loan from Super Rugby side, the Sharks, will make his Isuzu Southern Kings and Guinness PRO14 debut with a starting berth.
Aston Fortuin, who made his debut in last weekend’s opening match of the season, will take the place of Astle in the second row, earning his first start for the side in the championship.
The experienced No8 Ruaan Lerm will make a return for the side after recovering from an ankle injury.
In the backline, fullback Masixole Banda, who missed out on selection for the opening match due to a groin injury, will be back in the No15 jersey where his own experience will be of benefit for the side.
He will play alongside a new wing pairing of Andell Loubser and Courtney Winnaar, who replace Yaw Penxe and Christopher Hollis, both of whom are unavailable for selection due to medical reasons.
Tertius Kruger also makes a return to the side at outside centre, where he takes the place of the injured Howard Mnisi.
The Isuzu Southern Kings will also have some firepower on the bench which will include Alulutho Tshakweni and Bobby de Wee, while Josiah Twum-Boafo will be making his debut from the bench as backline cover.
The match will kick off at 16h00.
The Isuzu Southern Kings team is:
FORWARDS (1-8): Juan Schoeman, Alandre van Rooyen, Pieter Scholtz, Jerry Sexton, Aston Fortuin, Lusanda Badiyana (C), Tienie Burger, Ruaan Lerm
BACKLINE (9-15): Stefan Ungerer (V/C), Demetri Catrakilis, Courtney Winnaar, JT Jackson, Tertius Kruger, Andell Loubser , Masixole Banda.
REPLACEMENTS (16-23): Jacques du Toit, Alulutho Tshakweni, Rossouw de Klerk, Bobby de Wee, Elrigh Louw, Josh Allderman, Sibusiso Sithole, Josiah Twum-Boafo
Alan Straton
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