The Southern Kings are experiencing what Super Rugby is really about. The toughest matches week in and week out. Having to pick yourself up after a bad lose, dealing with that lose and still have to focus on the coming weeks game. Injuries to first choice players. All aspects of the game that makes Super Rugby the toughest you'll get.
The game against the Highlanders will be their 10th consecutive match before the Kings enjoy a well deserved break and some much needed recovery time before starting to focus on their return match against the Cheetahs on the 25th of May in Port Elizabeth. After the pounding they received from the Waratahs there's not much time for them to lick their wounds as they need to focus on the game against the Highlanders. The Highlanders, currently last on the over all log will be by no means an easy game as they got their first win and confidence back after beating the Sharks last week and will be looking to make it two in a row when they face the Kings on Saturday.
As with all other teams the Kings have had their share of injuries over the season. Losing their captain Luke Watson in the first match of the tournament. First choice fullback SP Marais getting injured against the Chiefs. Speedster Sergeal Petersen missed two matches against the Bulls and Cheetahs and had to leave the field against the Waratahs. Petersen will be out for 3 to 4 weeks while recovering from a grade 2 tear to his hamstring. Jacques "Vleis" Engelbrecht who burst onto the Super Rugby scene when he replaced Watson in that first game will also have to sit out against the Highlanders after injuring his ankle last week.
Watson has since recovered from his injury and has mainly started from the bench, but will be taking over from Engelbrecht and will also lead his team out on Saturday. Cornell du Preez will move to no 8 with Wimpie van der Walt moving to no 6 and Watson at 7. SP Marais has also recovered from his injury and will be on the bench, replacing Siviwe Soyizwapi. Daniel Adongo will also return to the bench after some solid performances for the Vodacom Cup side. Devin Oosthuizen and Shane Gates will also take up their place on the bench after some good outings for the EP Kings. Gates could get his first run in a Southern Kings jersey as he replaces Waylon Murray on the bench.
Other chances to the starting line up sees David Bulbring replacing Rynier Bernardo at no 5 and Marcello Sampson replacing Sergeal Petersen on the left wing.
The match will be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and kick off will be at 17:05.
Southern Kings:
15 George Whitehead 14 Siyanda Grey 13 Ronnie Cooke 12 Andries Strauss (VC) 11 Marcello Sampson 10 Demetri Catrakilis 9 Shaun Venter 8 Cornell du Preez 7 Luke Watson (C) 6 Wimpie van der Walt 5 David Bulbring 4 Steven Sykes 3 Kevin Buys 2 Bandise Maku 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements:
16 Virgile Lacombe 17 Grant Kemp 18 Daniel Adongo 19 Devin Oosthuizen 20 Nicolas Vergallo 21 Shane Gates 22 SP Marais
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