Getting that "bulldog" off their backs

Eastern Province Kings U21 head coach, Ryan Felix, has named his team to take on the Border Bulldogs U21 team in East London on Friday evening in the battle for the right to play in the A division of the ABSA Currie Cup U21 Competition next year.

The EP Kings U21 side have had a phenomenal season, having won the B Division final against arch rivals SWD last week and bringing the trophy home for the third time in a row.

Felix said the team, once again captained by Kevin Kaba, was fairly unchanged from the team that beat SWD, with just two changes to the starting lineup.

Warrick Venter moves up from the bench to start at hooker, after John Henry Schmitt sustained a knee injury in the final, while Wynand Grassmann takes over from Aidon Davis on the flank as he moves to eigthman to cover for Ivan du Preez who is unavailable due to exams.

There is also two changes to the bench, with Tyrone Rankin called up as replacement hooker, and Jason Baggott coming up for Sonwabo Majola, who is also unavailable due to exams.

“This has been a great season for us, with the team performing really well against the tougher competitors in the division,” said Felix.

“The team have worked really well together this year and the work ethic, team spirit and overall energy has been really amazing to be a part of,” he said.

Felix said they would not be underestimating their opponents on Friday night.

“We know they have had a tough season this year, but they are playing at a different level to us, so we cannot go in with the mentality that this will be an easy game. We know that they will be looking to defend their A division status so they will be coming at us hard,” he said.

Felix said the team were, however, up for the challenge.

“We have had good games against teams like Boland and SWD, both of whom have similar playing styles to Border and there is a definite hunger in the team to leavebehind a legacy for the next group of players coming through,” he said.

EP Kings U21: 

1 Nicolas Roebeck 2 Warrick Venter 3 Mzuvukile Sofisa 4 Kevin Kaba 5 Stephan Zaayman 6 CJ Velleman 7 Waynand Grassmann 8 Aidon Davis 9 Francwa Ueckermann 10 Malcolm Jaer 11 Ayabulela Dlepu 12 Riaan Esterhuizen 13 Siphumelele Msutwana 14 Segeal Petersen 15 Selvyn Davids

Reserves:

16 Tyrone Rankin 17 Matthew Moore 18 Brendan Hector 19 Frans Gerber 20 Jasson Baggott 21 Warren Swarts 22 Jaco Bernardo