Kings must pick up pieces
IF the EP Kings plan to get their Vodacom Cup campaign back on track they cannot afford any more slip-ups after they crashed to a heavy 56-22 defeat against Western Province in Cape Town.
The Kings face a strong Free State 15 in Cradock on Saturday and they may be tempted to include some extra-heavy artillery from their elite Currie Cup Premier Division squad for a must-win game.
At training yesterday members of the elite group who trained with the Kings Vodacom Cup squad were Jaco Grobler, Sergeal Petersen, BG Uys, Charl du Plessis, Rynier Berbardo and George Whitehead.
After a shock opening 17-10 defeat against the Kenyan Tusker Simba 15, the Kings were always going to be on the back foot and the WP defeat has seen them slip to sixth spot on the league standings and out of the playoff berths.
The Kings are expected to name their team today for a match that will form part of Cradock's 200th anniversary celebrations.
The only time the Kings will be in action at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium during the league stages of the competition is on April 12 when they host Boland.
After three games the standings in the South Section are: Sharks (13), SWD Eagles (12), Free State (11), Western Province (9), EP Kings (6), Tusker Simba XV (5), Border Bulldogs (4), Boland Cavaliers (0).
The Kings have fielded mainly youthful teams in their opening games with some experienced heads mixed in like centre Tiger Mangweni to try and bring some stability. In their opening game against the Kenyans, elite squad members Siviwe "Shakes"Soyizwapi and Scott van Breda were included. Then, for the Border game in East London, Rynier Bernardo was included to a boost the Kings pack and line-up. For the Western Province clash the Kings drafted in wing Michael Killian and flank Paul Schoeman who have been working in the Currie Cup Premier Division squad which is being coached by Carlos Spencer.
Kings head Vodacom Cup coach Mzwandile Stick must be concerned that his team leaked eight tries against Western Province and their defensive structure will be tested again by the strong-running Free Staters in Cradock.
The Kings scored three tries of their own in Cape Town with Kuhle Sonkosi, Michael Killian and Selvyn Davids all dotting down. Conversions: Ntabeni Dukisa. Penalty: Dukisa.
The format for this year's Vodacom Cup sees South Africa's 14 provincial unions, as well as the Limpopo Blue Bulls and Kenyan debutants the Tusker Simba 15, playing in two sections, North and South, with eight teams in each of the groups. The teams play a single round within their own section after which the top four sides from each section progress to the playoffs. - George Byron
