Southern Kings head coach, Deon Davids, made a raft of changes to the team to face the Cheetahs in tomorrow's final GuinessPro14 fixture at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
The Kings said in their team announcement that some of the changes were positional, while others were injury forced.
Davids also announced that Jacque Nel will lead the Southern Kings in the absence of Schalk Ferreira who has a rib injury.
He acknowledged that the Cheetahs would present a formidable challenge at the end of what has been a long and difficult season for the Kings but said his team were determined to turn in a good “farewell” performance for their fans.
“We’ve had to learn a lot in a short space of time this season but this team has always given 100% and I expect no different tomorrow,” Davids said.
“The backline sees the exciting Masixole Banda – deployed exclusively at fullback this season – get his first start at flyhalf with Yaw Penxe moving from the wing into the number 15 jersey. Harlon Klaasen is drafted in on the wing vacated by Penxe”.
“Ntabeni Dukisa who did duty at flyhalf in the Kings’ last match against the Cardiff Blues switches to inside centre in place of Luzuko Vulindlu with Jacques Nel selected outside him in preference to Berton Klaasen,” Davids said.
Ferreira’s unavailability means there is a start in the number 1 jersey for Justin Forwood who makes a welcome return to action after a long-term injury.
“Other changes amongst the forwards see Stephan Greeff re-united with regular lock partner Bobby De Wee and Lubabalo Mtyanda moved to the bench. The loose forwards have also been re-arranged with only Marthinus Burger retaining his place after the Cardiff Blues encounter and Khaya Majola (flank) and Dries Van Schalkwyk (number 8) replacing Lusanda Badiyana and Ruaan Lerm respectively.”
Davids has made three changes to the Kings bench. Dayan Van Der Westhuizen returns as replacement prop to fill the void left by Forwood’s promotion to the starting XV whilst JP Smith and JC Roos are also included as backline cover.
The Kings said that the day has also been given a festival air with a number of exciting curtain raisers on the B-field which will host three Standard Bank Grey Rugby Festival schools fixtures starting at 11h00 and the main field will see the EP Elephants take on neighbours SWD Eagles in a Supersport Challenge encounter at 12h15.
The match between the Kings and the Cheetahs will kick off at 15h00.
