Kings team to take on the Jaguares

Apr 29 • General News, Super Rugby • 1414 Views • Comments Off on Kings team to take on the Jaguares

Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids has announced his team to take on the Jaguares in Argentina tomorrow.

Davids has made nine changes to his team, including two positional changes, ahead of the match.

The front row is boosted with the return of Edgar Marutlulle at hooker in place of Martin Ferreira, while tighthead prop Jacobie Adriaanse moves to the bench to make way for Tom Botha in a rotational move.

JC Astle moves up from the bench to stand alongside captain Steven Sykes, filling in for Schalk Oelofse, who missed the Argentinian tour due to a concussion sustained during the Emirates Lions game.

The loose trio remains unchanged with Chris Cloete and Thembelani Bholi at flank, while CJ Velleman returns at eighth man.

Ntando Kebe comes on at scrumhalf in a rotational change with James Hall, while Elgar Watts gets a start at flyhalf in place of Louis Fouche, who moves to the bench.

The two positional changes see Luzuko Vulindlu moving to left wing, while Lukanyo Am moves from outside centre to right wing.

Stefan Watermeyer comes up from the bench to outside centre, playing alongside vice captain Shane Gates who holds his position at inside centre.

Jaco van Tonder gets his first start at fullack, following the absence of Malcolm Jaer, who is out for six weeks following a broken hand sustained during the Lions game..

“At fullback we have Jaco van Tonder, we know he can play at 15 and hasn’t had a chance to start there yet this year, and Leighton Eksteen, who can come in as a backup,” Davids said.

“We felt that, at this point of time, we want to give Jaco a chance and see how he is doing,” he said.

Davids said the team was expecting a tough competition on Saturday.

“They have a good forward pack and will definitely come at us with driving mauls. They’re an internationally experienced side, they love ball in hand, they love using the width of the field and love a quick game.”

“We will just have to be very alert and very aware of what is happening in front of us and will have to work very hard within our structures and systems,” he said.

Davids has also included Stefan Willemse and Aidon Davis on the bench.

The team
15. Jaco Van Tonder
14. Lukhanyo Am
13. Stefan Watermeyer
12. Shane Gates (VC)
11. Luzuko Vulindlu
10. Elgar Watts
09. Ntando Kebe
08. CJ Velleman
07. Thembelani Bholi
06. Chris Cloete
05. JC Astle
04. Steven Sykes (C)
03. Tom Botha
02. Edgar Marutlulle
01. Schalk Ferreira

Reserves
16. Martin Ferreira
17. Justin Ackerman
18. Jacobie Adriaanse
19. Stefan Willemse
20. Aidon Davis
21. James Hall
22. Louis Fouche
23. Leighton Eksteen

The game will be aired on Supersport 1 on Saturday 30 April at 23:40 South African Time.