The Southern Kings are eager to rectify any errors from previous matches when they take on the Cell C Sharks in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday. Kick-off is at 19h30.
The match against the Sharks will be a momentous occasion for winger, Alshaun Bock, who will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut on the left wing at the age of 34.
“There were some difficult times which included a two-year break when I did not play any rugby. After SWD Eagles offered me a contract and then later Griquas, suddenly Vodacom Super Rugby opportunities came. I take this opportunity with both hands,” Bock said.
The Southern Kings had their last training session in Port Elizabeth on Thursday morning before flying out to Durban for the final stages of their preparations for the Vodacom Super Rugby match.
Head coach Deon Davids said on Thursday that his side was expecting a hard game against an in-form Cell C Sharks outfit this weekend.
“It is always difficult to go to Durban, but we are looking forward to this game,” Davids said.
Following last weekend’s 10-41 defeat to the DHL Stormers, the head coach stressed the importance of building on the positives from the last match while improving on areas that needed to get better.
“There were aspects of our game last week where we did some good things, but there is also stuff that we need to tidy up,” Davids said.
“At times we do seem like we are losing against ourselves. We need to be more clinical, it’s all about executing better. It is important that we up our work ethic and do the work for 80m minutes.”
Davids has made five changes to his starting XV following the match against the DHL Stormers.
Following his debut off the bench last week, Wilhelm van der Sluys will start at lock alongside Irne Herbst with Tyler Paul, who started in the No5 jersey on the past two matches, moving to the bench.
Andisa Ntsila gets back into the starting team at No7, replacing Thembelani Bholi.
In the backline, Louis Schreuder, who has been cleared following a concussion against the Sunwolves a fortnight ago, will start at scrumhalf, while Berton Klaasen makes his way back to No13, replacing Luzuko Vulindlu, who sustained a concussion against the DHL Stormers last week.
The Southern Kings Team:
15. Masixole Banda
14. Makazole Mapimpi
13. Berton Klaasen
12. Waylon Murray
11. Alshaun Bock
10. Lionel Cronje (v/c)
9. Louis Schreuder
8. Ruaan Lerm
7. Andisa Ntsila
6. Chris Cloete
5. Wilhelm van der Sluys
4. Irne Herbst
3. Ross Geldenhuys
2. Michael Willemse
1. Schalk Ferreira (capt)
Replacements: 16. Kurt Haupt, 17. Schalk van der Merwe, 18. Justin Forwood, 19. Tyler Paul, 20. Stefan Willemse, 21. Johan Steyn, 22. Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 23. Johann Tromp
If Johann Tromp gets onto the field, he will be making his Vodacom Super Rugby debut.
Alan Straton
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