The EP Kings have once again made wholesale changes to their starting 15 for Saturday's Currie Cup premier division clash with the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Its the King's 3rd match in eight days and coach Barend Pieterse made it clear from the outset that the heavy work-load this week would require the full use of the squad at his disposal.
He's been true to his word, and made no less than 13 changes to his run-on 15 from the team that lost to Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday - which was their fourth loss in a row in the competition. The only players to retain their places are lock Dylan Pieterse and outside centre JC Greyling. Scrumhalf Ricky Schroeder returns as captain with hooker Mike Willemse as vice captain. Kick off is at three o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
"The work load this week meant that this would always be a squad exercise with two teams rotating," said Pieterse. "But it has also been an opportunity for players and some of those who appeared against Griquas to earn another chance. This might have been seen by some as all doom and gloom but it has been far from that. The players' attitude has been magnificent - no negativity at all - and it has actually been good to be on the road as a squad."
Pieterse said the players for Saturday's match drove up to Bloem on Wednesday and as the majority of them are young and making their way they have really enjoyed the experience. "Twelve of the team who started against WP regain their places - with JC Greyling and Dylan Pieterse being the two to play their third match in eight days - while one or two injuries have given other players another chance."
The coach added that Hannes Huishamen - who only joined the touring party on Monday - deserves another run while Tazz Fuzani is still injured. Pieter-Steyn de Wet gets a start at ten as Lungelo Goza has a groin injury. "We have been making progress and there are certain areas where we are improving every week and there are certain areas where we still need to work. What is costing us most of the time is the little lapses in concentration that get converted into points against us when we have put ourselves into good positions in a number of matches. It'll be a nice challenge to go back to my old province and face some of the people who coached me! The Cheetahs are doing well so it'll be another great opportunity for our players."
EP Kings vs Cheetahs:
1 Justin Forwood 2 Mike Willemse(VC)3 Vukile Sofisa4 Dylan Pieterse5 Sebastian Ferreira6 Vince Jobo7 Etienne Oosthuizen8 Christiaan De Bruin
9 Ricky Schroeder (C )10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet11 Sampie Mastriet12 Berton Klaasen 13 JC Greyling14 Siviwe Soyizwapi15 Johann Tromp
Reserves16 Martin Bezuidenhout17 Barend Potgieter18 Hannes Huishamen19 Brandon Brown20 Vian van der Watt21 Kobus Marais22 Ganfried May
