The Eastern Province Kings u19s travel to Kimberly this weekend where they will take on the Griquas u19 side. The young men from Port Elizabeth have won both of their games thus far and will look to continue in their current form as they look to finish at the summit of the table. They currently sit on top of the table after 2 games, having won their 1st home game last week against Griffons 42-20 with Juandre Fourie particularly in fine form. The coaches selected the same starting XV for the 1st 2 games, this week however Coaches Ryan Felix and Rory Duncan have lost the services of the schoolboys who began their matric trial exams this week. They made a few changes to the team for tomorrow’s encounter with a few of the boys changing positions.
The loss of the schoolboys sees Kevin Kaba, a standout player for the u21s in their 1st 2 games, come down to bolster the u19 squad. The lock/loose forward brings a lot of experience and leadership to the team and will look to continue his fine form in the no.8 jersey for the u19s. His loose forward partners on the flanks will get their 1st starts of the season, having played off the bench in the previous 2 games. Dewald Meyer comes in on the blindside flank to replace Sabelo Sam who is writing his matric exams, JH Schmitt’s shift from no.6 to his favoured position in the middle of the front row at hooker opens up the openside flank berth for Pelser Hanekom.
The team boasts a new lock combination, Erwin Slabbert moves from 8 to lock where he’ll partner the only schoolboy in the side, Tyler Paul. Tyler is a big bruising 18 year old who represented Eastern Province CD at Craven Week earlier this year, the St Andrew’sCollege boy, whose renowned for his physicality and lineout ability, will look to assert himself as he gets a taste of what’s to come next year when he joins the Kings Academy. The only change in the front row is JH Schmitt coming in at hooker for JP Jamieson, another boy writing his matric exams. The props are the only unchanged members of the pack with Captain Matthew Moore continuing at tighthead and Lyle Lombaard also set to run out in the no.1 jersey.
The loss of the schoolboys is less evident in the backs with the only real loss being the 2 scrumhalves who played against the Griffons last week. The absence of both Matthew Alborough and Francois Nel gives Roger Louis an opportunity in the no.9 jersey. Louis who played off the bench against the Pumas in the Kings’ opening match will look to stake a claim for the starting scrumhalf berth. Last week’s standout player Juandre Fourie moves out wide to the left wing where he’ll look to utilize his pace and power to good effect. Khanya Mzilikazi shifts across to the right wing in place of Phelo Mfini. The new man coming into the inside centre role vacated by Fourie is Alex Banfield. The former Grey PE inside centre returns to Port Elizabeth having spent the 1st half of this year in Durban, Banfield has already made a handful of appearances for the Sharks u19s in their u19 competition. He has opted to return to the red and black hoops, his return to the Kings is a great boost for the u19 side as he’s a player of impeccable ability, gifted with a big boot, great distribution and great awareness, he’s a direct powerful runner who will look to give the backline some good momentum going forward. His ability to slot in at 10 or 12 will give the coaching staff more options. The rest of the backline is unchanged as Khaya Malotana another player who enjoyed some good form last week continues in the no.15 jersey. Warren Swarts and Sherwin Slater also retain their no.10 and no.13 respectively.
The bench also includes a few changes with 3 of the men on debut for the Kings u19s, former Grey PE boy Francois van der Walt comes onto the bench to cover the 2nd row. Sokhana Mpemba, an old Queenian, joins 3 other former Queen’s boys in the squad, the big robust loose forward who enjoys the hard stuff will relish the opportunity to run out in the black and red hoops. The last of the men who will be on debut tomorrow is Mario Mouwer, Mouwer who was educated at Brandwag will cover scrumhalf from the bench. Phelo Mfini is the only member of last week’s XV to drop to the bench.
If any of the Kings supporters are in the Kimberly area, they should make an effort to go support the young men when they kick off at 13h00 tomorrow. Good luck to Ryan, Rory, Matthew and the boys, Kimberly is a tough place to play, but the Kings Army is behind you lads. Bring the 5 points home!!!
Kings u19:
15: Khaya Malotana (Queen’s College)
14: Khanya Mzilikazi (Queen’s College)
13: Sherwin Slater (Andrew Rabie High School)
12: Alex Banfield (Grey High School, PE)
11: Juandre Fourie (Marlow Landbou)
10: Warren Swartz (Stirling High School)
09: Roger Louis (Cillie High School)
08: Kevin Kaba (Queen’s College)
07: Dewald Meyer (Otto du Plessis)
06: Pelser Hanekom (Daniel Pienaar)
05: Erwin Slabbert (Framesby High School)
04: Tyler Paul (St Andrew’s College)
03: Matthew Moore (Brandwag)
02: JP Jamieson (Oudtshoorn High School)
01: Lyle Lombaard (Otto du Plessis)
RESERVES:
16: Similile Qinela (Selborne College)
17: Divan Nell (PJ Olivier)
18: Francois van der Walt (Grey High School, PE)
19: Sokhana Mpemba (Queen’s College)
20: Mario Mouwer (Brandwag)
21: Mitchell Turner (Selborne College)
22: Siviwe Bisset (Grey High School, PE)
23: Phelo Mfini (Grey High School, PE)
HEAD COACH: Ryan Felix
ASSISTANT COACH: Rory Duncan
Ludumo Nkabi
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