The EP Kings team that will take on the SWD Eagles in their next ABSA Currie Cup First Division clash in George on Friday evening, will be bolstered by the return of experienced players who were called up to play in the Super Rugby match against the Sharks on the weekend.
EP Kings head coach, David Maidza, said he was happy to see experienced players such as Mpho Mbiyozo and Aidon Davis return to the starting line up, following their debut Super Rugby appearance against the Sharks.
Talking about the revised team, Maidza said Siviwe “Shakes” Soyizwapi took Scott van Breda’s position at fullback, while Marlou van Niekerk came on in place of Wesley Dunlop, who had injured a hamstring during the Leopards game.
“Dwayne Kelly comes on for Scott Mathie, who has a burst eardrum following a knock he took during practice, while Jaco Engels returns to the starting lineup in place of Ross Geldenhuys, having recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained while playing for Namibia,” said Maidza.
Other changes included Boetie Britz who rotates with Dane van Der Westhuizen, with Thaboi Mamojele and Yusuf “Boela” Abrahams on the bench. Also on the bench is Kayle van Zyl, who returns to the squad after having recovered from a broken jaw.
Maidza said he was disappointed in the overall performance of the team against the Leopards last weekend.
“There is no doubt that the Leopards game was one of two halves. We were inept in the first half and duly punished by the Leopards. At times we just handed them easy points through careless errors, which is one of the biggest problems we have been facing this season,” he said.
Maidza said the team conceded too many soft points, then battled to score points of their own.
“Once again our basic fundamentals of the game were littered with unnecessary mistakes and that was the main key focus this week in training ahead of the SWD Eagles,” he said
Maidza said the second half performance was certainly better from an effort perspective but again accuracy in the last third of the attack was lacking.
The EP Kings Team to play SWD Eagles at the Outeniqua Stadium in George on Friday 19 July 2013:
- Starting Lineup: 15. Siviwe “Shakes” Soyizwapi, 11. Eben Barnard, 13. Wayne Stevens, 12. Siyabonga “Tiger” Mangweni (Captain), 14. Marlou van Niekerk, 10. Ntabeni Dukisa, 9. Dwayne Kelly, 1. Brenden Olivier, 2. Boetie Britz, 3. Jaco Engels, 6. Stefan Willemse, 4. Samora Fihlani, 5. Aidon Davis, 7. Mpho Mbiyozo, 8. Dalton Davis.
- Replacements: 16. Albie de Swart, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Wayne van Heerden, 19. Thabo Mamojela, 20. Yusuf “Boela” Abrahams, 21. Kayle van Zyl, 22. Andile Jho
Alan Straton
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