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Next up for the SA Kings is Romania

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With their first Nations Cup tour victory under their belt (a 31- 17 victory over Georgia on 10 June) the South African Kings are looking forward to their next couple of games on the tour against hosts, Romania and then Portugal.

Coach Alan Solomons was upbeat with the SA Kings opening match in Bucharest, Romania; “Our first game against Georgia (ranked 14th in the world)was tough. They have a powerful pack of forwards and presented a huge physical challenge. We were able to rise to the occasion and walked away with a resounding 31-17 victory.”  Georgia came close to beating Ireland in the 2007 IRB Webb Ellis World Cup and the majority of their players ply their trade in France.

With Georgia now firmly behind them the SA Kings are focusing on the upcoming match against hosts Romania; a match which Alan Solomons expects to be another tough, physical encounter. He added “Romania is similar to Georgia in that they have a big, physical pack of forwards and they will be looking to take us on up front”. With Romania at full strength (having their first-choice players back from domestic rugby duties in France) the SA Kings know that they will need to replicate another performance similar to that of Georgia to walk away with the spoils in this encounter.

Alan Solomons added that many of the SA Kings’ players were gaining incredible experience by taking part in the IRB Nations’ Cup and that “they (players) are all getting a taste of playing abroad and in an international environment”.

Asked what his approach to the upcoming game would be Solomons siad; “Like all teams participating in the competition we came here aiming to win”.

The next SA Kings’ match is on Wednesday 15 June vs Romania at the National Arcul de Triumf Stadium, Bucharest, Romania. Live broadcast on Supersport 6 from 6pm.

SA Kings team to play Romania:
15. Mzwandile Stick (c) 14. Siyanda Grey 13. Jaco Bekker 12. Wayne Stevens 11. SP Marais 10. Louis Strydom 9. Danie Faasen 8. Luke Watson (vc) 7. Devin Oosthuizen  6. Jacques Engelbrecht 5. Ross Kennedy 4. Barend Pieterse 3. Clint Newland 2. Hannes Franklin 1. Jaco Engels

Reserves:
16. Frank Herne      17. Andre Schelchter  18. Wayne van Heerden 19. Jacques Potgieter  20. Boela Abrahams  21. Shane Gates 22. Baldwin Mcbean

SA Kings at the Nations Cup against Georgia, SA Kings won 37-17.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.