Van Aswegen could be back for WP clash

FLYHALF Gary van Aswegen was back in the mix at training for the EP Kings yesterday and he could be considered for the squad to travel to Cape Town to play Western Province in a Currie Cup Premier Division match on Friday.

Van Aswegen, who started in the Kings' first three Currie Cup matches, missed Saturday's clash against the Lions at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, because of a groin strain.

The former Western Province pivot was moving freely at training yesterday and could be eased back in action by starting on the bench in Cape Town.

If that happens, George Whitehead will retain his position as flyhalf in the Kings' starting lineup.

From the squad on view at training, the Kings might be considering a new pairing in the midfield with Tim Whitehead possibly partnering Dwayne Jenner.

Whitehead missed the Lions game because of a knee injury, but he looked sharp in training yesterday when Kings head coach Carlos Spencer put the team through their paces.

Scrumhalf Kevin Luiters and loose forward Paul Schoeman were rested yesterday because they were suffering from stiffness.

Despite his team putting 100 plus points past the Kings in two matches, Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann feels EP can still be a force in the Currie Cup Premier Division.

The Lions coach was speaking after his team beat the winless Kings 41-22 on Saturday night.

Saturday's win made it a double for the Lions, who thrashed the bottom-of-the-table Kings 60-19 in a first round encounter at Ellis Park last month.

"There are quality players at the Kings and you can see the hand of their coach Carlos Spencer in their play. The way they moved the ball showed they are a quality side. We knew it would be tough and that they would come out firing and they did that," Ackermann said.

"Although we had a good start we knew the Kings were never going to lie down. I think they are growing as team and I think that will be a force to be reckoned with in this Currie Cup regardless of log position. They will fight every week."

Spencer wants the Kings to show more patience against Western Province and has stressed that they need to hold onto the ball more.

"We always speak about six plus phases. At the moment there are times when we are not doing that and not putting enough pressure on the defence," Spencer said.

"If we can fix those little things we will come right."

"At the moment it's the same things we are talking about every week and trust me we are working on them and it is just a matter of getting them right on the pitch. We are looking forward to the Western Province game." - George Byron