The Eastern Province u21 side continued their rampant form last week at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium when they demolished the Valke u21 side by a huge margin, final score being 87-17. This team has a great balance in that it has a monstrous forward pack and has an amazing backline with an array of skills in their arsenal.
The men from Port Elizabeth still top the log with 30 points and the only potential threat to their no.1 spot is posed by their opposition this weekend, the Limpopo Blue Bulls u21 side. The men from Polokwane currently lie in 2nd with 26 points and have been in good form, the Kings will have to dig deep to come away with the result away from home.
Robbi Kempson named a side with very few changes for the final fixture against Limpopo this coming week ahead of the play-offs, opting for consistency for the most part.
The front row is bolstered by the return of former Nico Malan scholar Brendan Olivier who will run on for his 1st start for Robbi Kempson’s side this season. The big loosehead has had an impressive season thus far for the senior Kings side and will start in his favoured position of loosehead. Vukile Sofisa moves across from loosehead to tighthead for Pieter Stemmet, Dane will captain the side from hooker once again.
There is 1 more change in the tight 5, 19 year old lock/loose forward Kevin Kaba come into the no.5 jersey, a jersey he wore with aplomb in the 1st 2 games of the season before he went down to u19s again where he’s played mostly loose forward. The explosive lock will look to add a new dynamic with his mobility, aggressive ball carrying and lineout potency. Kuhle Sonkosi continues to be the model for consistency as he continues in no.4 enforcer role. There is one change in the loose forwards with Wayvern Smith out this week, Claude Tshibidi shifts from the engine room in the tight 5 to the side of the scrum at blindside flanker, Siphesihle Punguzwa continues at openside, likewise Aidon Davis is at no.8 where he’s been the whole season.
Ivan Ludick and Ruan Allerston will line up as the halfback combination for the 3rd consecutive match in good continuity by the coaches. Ofentse Boloko comes in on the left wing this for his 1st start since the 2nd round fixture against the Griffons where he went off injured, with Sphumelele Msutwana making way for him. The rock of the backline, the man who brings calmness, experience and leadership, Shane Gates, who celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday is at inside centre. The only other change in the backline is Marlou van Niekerk’s return; the outside centre comes in for Ace Jho after sitting out last week’s game with a concussion. Eben Barnard and Shakes Soyizwapi remain the only 2 backline players to have started all the games this season with Eben on the right wing and Shakes at fullback.
Yakha Qinela continues to deputise at hooker for Dane from the bench, while Pieter Stemmet drops to the bench this week and will cover the props. Brendan Hector covers lock from the bench and Sinethemba Ndita covers the loose forwards. The man known as Magic also continues to deputise for IvanLudick. Ace Jho will cover centre and Gavin Hauptfleisch who can slot in at fullback or flyhalf cover both positions from the bench.
New lock, Kevin Kaba was quite upbeat and in good spirits as he gave me his thoughts ahead of the game, “It’s been a good week of preparations. The guys have been focused and hard at work” “It will be tough out there, but we have done enough on the practice field to take us over the line.”
Good luck to Robbie, Stick and all the men ahead of this very tough encounter away from home. The match kicks off at 4pm.
EP Kings u21:
15: Siviwe Soyizwapi (Dale College)
14: Eben Barnard (Brandwag)
13: Marlou van Niekerk (Marlow Landbou)
12: Shane Gates (Muir College)
11: Ofentse Boloko (Selborne College)
10: Ruan Allerston (Port Natal)
09: Ivan Ludick (Oakdale Landbou)
08: Aidon Davis (Daniel Pienaar)
07: Claude Tshibidi (Potch Boys’ High School)
06: Siphesihle Punguzwa (Selborne College)
05: Kevin Kaba (Queen’s College)
04: Kuhle Sonkosi (Westering High School)
03: Vukile Sofisa (Grey High School, PE)
02: Dane van der Westhuyzen (St Andrew’s College)
01: Brendan Olivier (Nico Malan)
Rerserves:
16: Yakha Qinela (Selborne College)
17: Pieter Stemmet (Paul Roos Gymnasium)
18: Brendan Hector (Union High School)
19: Sinethemba Ndita (Nico Malan)
20: Sonwabo Majola (Muir College)
21: Gavin Hauptfleisch (Boishaai)
22: Andile Jho (Dale College)
HEAD COACH: Robbie Kempson
ASSISTANT COACH: Mzwandile Stick
Ludumo Nkabi - follow on twitter @ludz19
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