'Jet feet' Grey set for action again

[caption id="attachment_39220" align="alignright" width="250"] SIYANDA GREY[/caption]

DYNAMIC wing Siyanda Grey will be looking to make a big impact out wide when he returns to action for the Southern Kings against a Sharks XV at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7pm).

The man dubbed the "Komgha Comet" will provide extra gas for the Kings as they bid to beat a Sharks XV in a Super Rugby friendly.

Sidelined by a long-term knee injury, the 24-year-old Grey has a chance to prove he can nail down a berth in the Kings' Currie Cup squad.

The Komgha-born wing stole the headlines when the South African Kings won the IRB Nations Cup in Romania two years ago against tough international opposition. With his electrifying pace, Grey scored six tries in three matches, against Portugal, Romania and Georgia, and secured the coveted man- of-the-tournament trophy.

Last year he suffered torn knee ligaments. "We cannot expect too much from Siyanda in his first game back after a year," Kings head coach Carlos Spencer said.

"I am sure he has a few butterflies in his stomach and I am sure the injury is playing in the back of his mind. So he just has to get himself into the game and do the basics right. That is all we are asking. We want him to get game time under his belt and to gain confidence."

Grey can play at wing or centre, but Spencer says he sees the man with jet feet as a wing for now.

"We are limited in terms of game time ahead of the Currie Cup and we have to slowly start cementing our starting 15 with three more games to go. It is all going to depend on who is available and who is injured.

"I see Siyanda as a wing for now and we will see how he goes there this week."

The most notable change in the Kings side to face the Sharks is a new halfback pairing of former Italian test star Tobie Botes at scrumhalf with former Western Province pivot Gary van Aswegen at flyhalf.

Albe de Swardt replaces Edgar Marutlulle at hooker and prop Charl du Plessis starts in place of Simon Kerrod.

Another change in the front row sees Lizo Gqoboko starting in the place of BG Uys.

At lock David Bulbring gets a start in the place of Cameron Lindsay.

There are also new faces on the replacement bench in Sergeal Petersen, Michael van Vuuren and Shaun McDonald. - George Byron