Preview: EP Kings vs Griquas
With two away games against the Bulls and Western Province awaiting the Kings, they need to pull out all the stops this weekend to avoid another bottom of the log finish for the second successive year. The Griquas will still need to face the Sharks at home, a team they beat 21 – 18 in Durban last year, and the Lions in Johannesburg. A last place finish will mean the Kings will have to play a Promotion/Relegation match to retain their spot in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.
Scott van Breda tops the scoring column for the Kings, with a total of 53 points, which includes 7 conversions and 13 penalties. Robust flanker, Paul Schoeman and speedster Siyanda Grey are the top try scorers with two each.
With only one point separating the bottom two teams, both with one win each, the Kings have scored 134 points compared to Griquas’ 143. The Kings have conceded 204 points, slightly less then the 248 of the Griquas, which gives them a 70 points difference compared to the 105 of Griquas. Kings have scored 14 tries compared to Griquas’ 16, but conceded 7 tries less, 24, compared to Griquas’ 31.
Kings coach, Brent Janse van Rensburg opted for several rotational changes and one injury enforced change to his team that will face Griquas.
In the backline, a grade three hamstring tear will see Siyanda Grey sit out for a lengthy period as he will be replaced by Sylvian Mahuza on the right wing.
Amongst the forwards, Lizo Gqoboka returns to the front row in place of Schalk Ferreira, who will be on the bench, along with hard-working loose forwards Thembelani Bholi and Tim Agaba.
Bholi has been one of the outstanding players in the Kings team this season and Janse van Rensburg said it was important not to over-play him.
“Thembelani has played the full 80 minutes for several matches in a row and we feel he needs to have a break at this stage,” Janse van Rensburg said.
This means Cornell Hess will start at lock, with Stefan Willemse, Paul Schoeman and Jacques Engelbrecht making up the loose trio.
Janse van Rensburg said they were disappointed with their performance against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.
16 AJ Le Roux 17 Stephan Kotze 18 Stephan Greeff 19 Wendal Wehr 20 Dylon Frylink 21 Jonathan Francke 22 Ederies Arendse
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