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Southern Kings announce team to play Leinster Rugby

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Southern Kings Head Coach Deon Davids indulged in minimal tinkering to his squad when he, earlier today, announced the 23 players to face up to Leinster in a historic GUINESS PRO14 clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It will be the Kings first home match in the competition as well as the first time that GUINESS PRO14 matches are played on South African soil and hooker Micheal Willemse will once again have the honour of leading the team onto the field while centre Luzuko Vulindlu will be vice-captain.

Only one change has been made in the Kings backline from the team that did duty against Connacht last weekend – scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen coming in for Godlen Masimla who drops to the bench.

Amongst the front-row, an injury to Rossouw De Klerk has resulted in Luvuyo Pupuma being rewarded for his try-scoring performance against Connacht by being included in the starting XV while Petrus Strauss and Martin Dreyer have been brought onto the bench. There is also a change at lock where Stephan Greeff takes over from Jurie Van Vuuren.

Coach Davids cut a satisfied figure as he ran the rule over his charges during a boisterous open practice session this morning. “It’s great to be back on home soil and we are looking forward to the game against Leinster on Saturday. We plan on giving everything we have to entertain the fans and we’re hoping they turn out in large numbers to cheer us on,” he said.

Southern Kings COO Charl Crous shared similar sentiments: “There are many times that home support has given the Kings that extra bit of lift that’s necessary when things get tough and we are definitely going to need our fans to come to the party again on Saturday. We’re encouraging them to team up with us against the Northern Hemisphere throughout the GUINESS PRO14 competition and have adopted the hashtag #TeamUp for this initiative.”

Crous also confirmed that official Southern Kings supporters gear will be available to the public from mid-October. “We have had numerous requests from fans regarding this and are working as fast as we can with our suppliers to get kit for our supporters to wear. It’s unfortunately one of the side-effects of our late inclusion in the GUINNESS PRO14 but it’s one which we soon hope to have solved,” he said.

Tickets for Saturday’s match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – which kicks off at 14h15 – are on sale at all Ticket Pro outlets as well as online at www.ticketpros.co.za and start from as little as R50 per ticket

Southern Kings team to play Leinster Rugby

15 – Masixole Banda
14 – Yaw Penxe
13 – Berton Klaasen
12 -Luzuko Vulindlu
11 – Sibusiso Sithole
10 – Kurt Coleman
9 – Rudi van Rooyen
1 – Schalk Ferreira
2 – Micheal Willemse
3 – Luvuyo Pupuma
4 – Stephan Greeff
5 – Dries van Schalkwyk
6 – Khaya Majola
7 – Victor Sekekete
8 -Andisa Ntsila

Substitutes

16 – Stephan Coetzee
17 – Petrus Strauss
18 – Martin Dreyer
19 – Bobby de Wee
20 – Siyabulela Mdaka
21 – Godlen Masimla
22 – Ntabeni Dukisa / Oliver Zono
23 – Jacques Nel

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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.