Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids says the team is refusing to be drawn into off-field developments after it emerged that Super Rugby is set to be cut from 18 teams to 16 for next season following a meeting of governing body Sanzaar in London last week.
One of South Africa’s six teams and one of Australia’s five are reportedly facing the chop with the Kings considered the most vulnerable of the South African franchises and the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels the most vulnerable in Australia.
Sanzaar said they would issue a statement on the future of the competition after stakeholders hold final consultations this week.
Davids said, however, they were only focusing on what they can control. "Whatever is said outside of these doors is not part of our focus for now - we are concentrating purely on our performance on the field and nothing else." The coach's sentiments were shared by flanker Chris Cloete as the team prepared to fly out to Durban on Thursday for Saturday's Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Cell C Sharks. "We are concentrating on doing our job and focusing on the competition at hand at the moment. We are not letting this news on possible Super Rugby cuts creep into the camp," said Cloete.
The Southern Kings are meanwhile eager to rectify any errors from previous matches when they take on the Cell C Sharks in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday. Kick-off is at 19h30.
The Southern Kings had their last training session in Port Elizabeth on Thursday morning before flying out to Durban for the final stages of their preparations for the Vodacom Super Rugby match.
Head coach Deon Davids said on Thursday that his side was expecting a hard game against an in-form Cell C Sharks outfit this weekend.
“It is always difficult to go to Durban, but we are looking forward to this game,” Davids said.
Following last weekend’s 10-41 defeat to the DHL Stormers, the head coach stressed the importance of building on the positives from the last match while improving on areas that needed to get better.
“There were aspects of our game last week where we did some good things, but there is also stuff that we need to tidy up,” Davids said.
“At times we do seem like we are losing against ourselves. We need to be more clinical, it’s all about executing better. It is important that we up our work ethic and do the work for 80m minutes.”
Davids has made five changes to his starting XV following the match against the DHL Stormers.
Following his debut off the bench last week, Wilhelm van der Sluys will start at lock alongside Irne Herbst with Tyler Paul, who started in the No5 jersey on the past two matches, moving to the bench.
Andisa Ntsila gets back into the starting team at No7, replacing Thembelani Bholi.
In the backline, Louis Schreuder, who has been cleared following a concussion against the Sunwolves a fortnight ago, will start at scrumhalf, while Berton Klaasen makes his way back to No13, replacing Luzuko Vulindlu, who sustained a concussion against the DHL Stormers last week.
It will be a momentous occasion for winger, Alshaun Bock, who will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut on the left wing at the age of 34.
“There were some difficult times which included a two-year break when I did not play any rugby. After SWD Eagles offered me a contract and then later Griquas, suddenly Vodacom Super Rugby opportunities came. I take this opportunity with both hands,” Bock said.
NOTES:
THE SOUTHERN KINGS TEAM TO TAKE ON CELL C SHARKS:
15. Masixole Banda
14. Makazole Mapimpi
13. Berton Klaasen
12. Waylon Murray
11. Alshaun Bock
10. Lionel Cronje (v/c)
9. Louis Schreuder
8. Ruaan Lerm
7. Andisa Ntsila
6. Chris Cloete
5. Wilhelm van der Sluys
4. Irne Herbst
3. Ross Geldenhuys
2. Michael Willemse
1. Schalk Ferreira (capt)
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Kurt Haupt, 17. Schalk van der Merwe, 18. Justin Forwood, 19. Tyler Paul, 20. Stefan Willemse, 21. Johan Steyn, 22. Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 23. Johann Tromp
