More fire from Kings wanted
[caption id="attachment_35346" align="alignright" width="199"] CARLOS SPENCER -[/caption]
EASTERN Province Kings head coach Carlos Spencer wants his team to turn up with extra fire in their bellies when they attempt to tame the Blue Bulls at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.10pm).
Spencer is anxious for his team to record their first win of the season and kick start their Currie Cup Premier Division campaign, after their slow start.
Asked if he would like bit of extra fire in the bellies of his players, Spencer said: "Yes, I would. You know I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't. We need to turn up with that little bit of extra fire this week if we want to win. The Bulls are coming off a good win over the Lions so they are high in confidence.
"We have to knock that confidence out of them, and if we are passive we will not be able to do that.
"I have spoken to the guys about the physicality and urgency and desire over the past couple of days. They know that if they don't come with that, it will be a long night."
Despite losing five matches on the trot, Spencer believes his team can tame the Bulls in front of their home fans.
"We can beat the Bulls. We understand they are a better side now than what they were three weeks ago. They have definitely improved and we understand that we have a massive challenge on our hands, and the guys are excited by that.
"We have put the last five weeks behind us and we are almost looking at this as the start of our season. We have an opportunity to turn this season around and it has got to start this week against great opposition in terms of the Bulls.
"So it is massive challenge for us and if we are 100% physically and mentally right we can do the job."
Judging by the high tempo and physicality displayed on the training pitch this week, the Kings are intent on fighting fire with fire when they scrum down against the Bulls.
After being accused of lacking intensity when they slumped to a 49-14 defeat against Western Province on Friday, they were put through a gruelling session on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Bulls are in with a chance of doing what they are yet to do in this year's Currie Cup campaign – win two matches on the trot.
Coach Frans Ludeke's men will arrive in Port Elizabeth with their tails up after their solid win over the Lions and are planning to mount a surge up the league table.
"Turning the corner? I think it's just about backing each other and playing well," Ludeke said.
"The results will come. The process will take care of itself.
"You work your plan, things will go your way."
Bulls captain Deon Stegmann said: "I think this Currie Cup is wide open. There were definitely some surprises at the weekend.
"We just try to focus on our own race. Now we are just preparing for the next game."
This weekend's fixtures:
Friday: EP Kings v Blue Bulls (Port Elizabeth)
Saturday: Griquas v Pumas (Kimberley), Free State Cheetahs v Sharks (Bloemfontein), Golden Lions v Western Province (Johannesburg). - George Byron
