In Super Rugby the Southern Kings meet the Cheetahs this Saturday and predictions are for another loss and the continuation of the wooden spoon status for the Southern Kings amongst the South African sides participating.
Whilst in the Vodacom Cup the EP Kings are most likely headed for honours in the South Section of the tournament as the Toyota Free State XV only stand a slim outside chance of beating the EP Kings to the quarter-finals. If the EP Kings, away to the Regent Boland Cavaliers, manage to secure a solitary bonus point in Wellington. It would move the Kings to 21 points, and the team from Bloemfontein can’t go higher than 20 in their upcoming match against DHL Western Province which kicks off at 16h45 in Bloemfontein as a curtain raiserr to the Southern Kings Cheetahs match at 19h10.
A group of six teams that have won no less than nine Vodacom Cup titles between them – the Leopards XV, GWK Griquas, MTN Golden Lions, Down Touch Griffons, EP Kings and Toyota Free State XV – will be going all out to secure the last three quarter-final spots.
The quarter-finals will be contested at the home grounds of the top two teams in each section. The match-ups will be across the sections, meaning North 1 will host South 4, South 1 will play North 4, North 2 will take on South 3 and South 2 will host North 3.
Vodacom Cup head coach, David Maidza said the team would be led by Siyabonga “Tiger” Mangweni, following his outstanding performance against the Sharks XV over the weekend.
Among the players returning to the squad, was Darron Nell, who sat out the game against the Sharks XV due to a back injury. “It’s great to have Darron back, he is one of the players who brings a lot of experience and stability to the side,” said Maidza.
Maidza said another key addition to the front row was Hannes Franklin, who would start at hooker. “Hannes definitely brings experience to our forwards, and will help stabilise us on set piece and is very good on line out and scrummage,” he said.
Maidza said he was also impressed with the quality of play from Kyle van Zyl and Eben Barnard during the Sharks XV game, and said he felt they both had a lot to offer.
Maidza said the team would be looking to build on their momentum following the win over the weekend.
He said the team were looking forward to the game against Boland. “We’ve gone there a couple of times and we’ve played well, and we’ve come unstuck a few times as well. We know what we’re up against, they like to run the ball and we will have to be ready for that,” he said.
Maidza said the team was preparing well for the game, and would have to make sure that they do what they do best, concentrating on the game and building on the lessons learnt.
EP Kings Team to Play Boland at the Westbank Stadium in Malmesbury on Saturday 27 April 2013:
- Starting Line-up: 15. Kyle van Zyl, 11. Eben Barnard, 13. Scott van Breda, 12. Siyabonga “Tiger” Mangweni (Captain), 14. Brian Skosana, 10. Shane Gates, 9. Scott Mathie, 1. Lizo Gqoboka, 2. Hannes Franklin, 3. Charl du Plessis, 6. Devin Oosthuizen, 4. Darron Nell (V/C), 5. Daniel Adonga, 7. Tomas Leonardi, 8. Paul Schoeman,
- Replacements: 16. Boetie Britz, 17. Jaco Engels, 18. Stefan Willemse, 19. Tim Agaba, 20. Dwayne Kelly, 21. Wesley Dunlop , 22. Andile Jho
