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Southern Kings team to take on Newport Gwent Dragons

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Back on Northern Hemisphere soil again after a couple of weeks of GUINNESSPRO14 action at home, the Southern Kings today announced their team to take on Newport Gwent Dragons at the Rodney Parade this weekend. Head coach Deon Davids has handed a starting place to Jacques Nel at centre in place of Luzuko Vulindlu who drops to the bench and veteran finisher Alshaun Bock comes in place of Sibusiso Sithole on the left wing. The only other change amongst the backline is injury-enforced and sees Godlen Masimla take over at scrumhalf from Rudi van Rooyen. Rowan Gouws is included in the match-day 23 as replacement scrumhalf on the bench.

There has been some shuffling in the Southern Kings pack too. Martin Dreyer gets a chance to stake his claim at tighthead prop in the absence of Luvuyo Pupuma who has been ruled out for at least four weeks with a rotator cuff injury. Bobby De Wee gets a start at lock in place of Dries Van Schalkwyk who makes the switch to number eight – a position he filled with some distinction for Italian club Zebre last season. The man who wore the number eight jersey for the Kings last weekend, Andile Ntsila, shifts to the side of the scrum where he takes over from Khaya Majola at flank. Majola is included on the bench. Making it all-change from the loose-trio who did duty against Zebre last weekend, Jurie van Vuuren returns as no.7 flank in place of Victor Sekekete.

Hooker Michael Willemse will once again captain the Kings team which welcomes back prop Entienne Swanepoel on the bench after a compulsory break due to concussion and there is also place found amongst the replacements for lock Lubabalo Mtyanda.

Coach Davids said he was satisfied with the team’s work rate and that they were showing signs of improvement each week: “I have made a few changes for this weekend’s match against the Dragons and given different players the chance to impress and stake their claim to a starting place in the Kings team. I believe that they will take advantage of the opportunity.”

Despite a few strong 40-minute halves in the GUINNESPRO14 so far this season, the Kings are still looking for a complete 80-minute performance and Coach Davids has challenged his team to deliver that at the Rodney Parade on Saturday. The Kings are still searching for their first win of the campaign whilst the home side have managed just one win themselves and come off the back of a stinging 52-25 defeat away to Ulster last weekend.

Saturday’s match between The Kings and the Dragons kicks off at 20h35 SA time and will be broadcast live on Supersport, Channel 201, the official broadcast sponsor.

TEAM SHEET:

1 Schalk Ferreira

2 Michael Willemse (C)

3 Martin Dreyer

4 Stephan Greeff

5 Bobby de Wee

6 Andisa Ntsila

7 Jurie van Vuuren

8 Dries van Schalkwyk

9 Godlen Masimla

10 Pieter – Steyn de Wet

11 Alshaun Bock

12 Berton Klaasen

13 Jacques Nel

14 Yaw Penxe

15 Masixole Banda

Substitutes

16 Stephan Coetzee

17 Rossouw de Klerk

18 Entienne Swanepoel

19 Lubabalo Mtyanda

20 Khaya Majola

21 Rowan Gouws

22 Oliver Zono

23 Luzuko Vulindlu

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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.