AFTER the hasty manner in which they were thrown together, few would have predicted that the struggling Southern Kings would head into the month-long Super Rugby break with two wins under their belt.
At the start of the season the naysayers forecast that the Kings would not be able to win even a single match in their comeback season to Super Rugby after a two-year break.
Admittedly the Kings made heavy weather of beating a 12-man Jaguares team in their last match, but they eventually got over the line thanks to three late tries.
Earlier in the season the Kings notched their first win when they beat Japan’s Sunwolves in Port Elizabeth, but they were unable to build on that success until they met the Jaguares in their 12th match.
After the win over the Jaguares, Kings coach Deon Davids said he was proud of his boys for the way they had fought to pull off their second victory.
Davids summed up the feelings of many when he said that if he had been told at the start of the season that his team would have two wins at this stage he would gladly have taken it.
The playing field for the Kings was never going to be level considering they made a late start to their pre-season preparations after a cash crisis enveloped EP Rugby.
The team comprised mainly raw young talent and players who could not make the cut at rival Super Rugby franchises.
But, despite the odds being stacked against them, the Kings did manage to uncover some uncut diamonds who look set for successful careers at the top level.
Young scrumhalf James Hall took to Super Rugby with relish after playing for the EP U19 team last year.
There were others like talented young guns C J Velleman and Malcolm Jaer who added weight to the adage that if you are good enough you are old enough.