Accompanying me to the game as chief typist for the live blogcast and photographer was the Apprentice Longhair. Actually she was drawn by the free food and drinks but ended up thoroughly enjoying the rugger – watch out Mexted, Bladen and chums, here comes a rival with beauty, brains and female points.
My quick summing up of the Super Rugby friendlies that the Southern Kings have played:
A good opportunity for Alan Solomons and his team to see all local SWD, EP and Border players in contention for Super Rugby play under pressure. What was supposed to be a try-out fiesta has unfortunately added to injury woes for the Kings and visiting sides as well, though.
The Kings Sharks game was an eye opener for these reasons:
- Despite the almost complete dominance of black and white in spectator attire, the sound level of roars of approval for good moves from both sides were equal.
- The Kings, despite having NO star national players in their forward pack gave out good lessons to the Sharks pack – something that would concern me if my surname was Plumtree.
- The Kings were playing against a Sharks team that placed 6th in 2011 Super Rugby and 2nd in the 2011 Currie Cup. Understandably certain ‘experts’ predicted a points spread hiding of more than 60 points for the Sharks against a Kings side, “that failed to win the Currie Cup ‘B’ division”. Once again I would be concerned if my surname was Plumtree or Du Plessis.
- Younger LOCAL academy Kings players such as Muir pupil and NMMU student, Shane Gates and Framesby School graduate, Reynier Bernardo showed most emphatically that they can perform at Super Rugby level.
- The depth in the forwards is immense and the pack has gelled into a formidable unit that is so much more than the sum of individual players.
- Pack discipline was tight and for me the entire front row along with Jacques Engelbrecht and Boetie Britz showed heart, talent and determination
Lets get back to the Kings failure to win the First Division in 2011 and I need draw a parallel here:
It is accepted that the 9 teams in the Premier Divison are ranked in order of ability at the end of each season as are the 6 teams in the ‘Lower’ First Division. If this was a school then the teams in the Premier Division would be ranked from 1st to 9th with the First Division teams making up the 10th to 15th team. So then the Sharks would be the 2nd Team and the Kings the 11th Team.
Which brings me to the question; “What chances would you give the 11th Team in YOUR school against the 2nd Team in YOUR school?”
Conclusion: The Kings deserve all praise for a great game against a side peppered with Springboks that should have run rings around the Kings and racked up a T20 cricket score. Again – if my surname was Plumtree I would have my players back in the Durban Dojo at 1:00 pm every day for a two hour session or I would be talking to young Kings players who have grit, determination and talent.
The Kings failed in these areas:
- A little bit of studying of the Sharks next opponents, the Blue Bulls, may have made the team and management come to the conclusion that the Sharks would practice upping their game in the last 20 minutes as a dry run for the Bulls.
- Midfield is a bit of a nightmare.
- Clearance kicking needs some serious work.
- Communication, handling and tactics from centres to wings need work, especially on the LHS.
- That defensive line was more of a thought than action unfortunately.
Some ‘Sharks Experts’ will say that the conditions were difficult so the scoreline is not as was expected. I have this to say to that; “You are lucky then that the conditions were NOT perfect as then the points spread may have been even smaller and maybe even negative!” Get a life guys – they played on the same field, under the same conditions and both teams are from coastal cities.
I am well known for expounding on my theory that a strong team representing the Eastern Cape WILL contribute to provincial pride and prosperity. It is time for the naysayers and those who say thet they will support the Kings when they show that they are worthy of being supported to now step up to the plate and invest in their future by supporting our local team.
One last thought; “Imagine the pandemonium in assembly on a Monday morning when the headmaster/person/rector/um announces that the school’s 11th team held the school’s 2nd team to a credible 13-38 scoreline?”
Scorers:
Sharks:
- Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Ryan Kankowski, Riaan Viljoen, Paul Jordaan, Keegan Daniels (2)
- Conversions: Patrick Lambie (4)
- Try: Boetie Britz
- Conversion: Earl Rose
- Penalties: Falie Oelschig (2)
Sharks Captain Bismarck Du Plessis. Image: Brittany Straton
Sharks Coach John Plumtree. Image: Brittany Straton
Kings Captain Darron Nell. Image: Brittany Straton
Kings Coach Alan Solomons. Image: Brittany Straton
