The Eastern Province Kings are ready to face another tough challenge in this years Currie Cup competition, as they prepare to face the Border Bulldogs on Saturday 23 April.
The Eastern Province Kings are ready to face another tough challenge in this years Currie Cup competition, as they prepare to face the Border Bulldogs on Saturday 23 April.
The Kings have made three changes to the starting XV that went down 37-18 at the hands of the Boland Kavaliers in round two of the competition.
Two of these changes are forced through injury, with David Murray (loosehead prop) suffering from a bruised rib, and Jixie Molapo (wing) being sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury. They are replaced by Nicolaas Oosthuizen, who comes in at prop, and Athenkosi Mayinje, who moves up from the bench to come in at wing.
The last change to the starting line-up comes in the form of regular captain, Jeremy Ward, coming back at inside centre fresh from training with the Springbok U20’s squad. He replaces Siphumelele Msutwana, who is dropped from the match day squad.
The Kings have also switched up their bench, with Tango Balekile coming in to replace JP Jamieson, Gregory Jackson coming in as a replacement prop, Chuma Faas replacing the injured Davron Cameron, and Keanu Vers covering the wing.
The Kings have yet to pick up a win in the newly formatted Currie Cup, going down 14-37 against the SWD Eagles in round one and 37-18 against the Boland Kavaliers in the second round of the competition.
The match kicks-off at 2pm on Saturday, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and serves as a curtain raiser for the Southern King’s Super Rugby match against current Africa 2 conference leaders, the Emirates Lions, which kicks-off at 5pm.
EP Kings team:
Courtney Winnaar, Athenkosi Mayinje, Somila Jho, Jeremy Ward (C), Lindelwe Zungu, Simon Bolze, Franswa Ueckermann, Junior Pokomela, Sintu Manjezi (VC), JP Jonck, Cornell Hess, Mthetheleli Tazz Fuzani, Louis Albertse, Warrick Venter, Nicolaas Oosthuizen
Reserves:
Tango Balekile, Gregory Jackson, Philip Du Preez, Stephanus SF Nieuwoudt, Chuma Faas, Riaan Esterhuizen, Keanu Vers
