Solly satisfied with Kings’ ‘trials’

Solly satisfied with Kings’ ‘trials’

17 Feb 2012

Kings coach Alan Solomons says their pre-season matches were all about giving players from across the region the chance to stake a Super Rugby claim.

The South-Eastern Cape franchise has fielded two different teams over the past three weeks against the five South African Super Rugby sides. The Kings team made up of EP players lost 16-12 to the Bulls and 38-13 to the Stormers in PE, and will play the Sharks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday night. The Kings side drawn only from Border and SWD, the other two provinces in the franchise, went down 33-20 to the Cheetahs in East London before being thrashed 88-0 by the Lions in George.

‘To play five South African franchises in 20 days is a huge ask, in fact it’s physically impossible to do it with one side,’ Solomons told keo.co.za. ‘Having a combined Border-SWD team helped to break up that schedule. More importantly, it gave us the chance to see all the players in the region play against top quality opposition, which enables us to assess them better. That’s what we wanted to achieve from these five games, nothing more.’

Border players dominated the Border-SWD Kings side and while they were humiliated by the Lions, Solomons says he was pleased with their performance against the Cheetahs.

‘[Border centre] Dwayne Jenner did really well in that game and he’s going to play for us against the Sharks on Friday with Jaco Bekker being out. I was also impressed by [Border flank] Roy Bursey, a young boy from Selborne College who spent a year at the Sharks Academy. [Border flank] Gareth Krause and [SWD No 8] Michael Vermaak also played very well.’

Solomons, though, is realistic and admits the Kings will have to bring in players from outside the region if they are to be competitive in Super Rugby next year.

‘We will be going on a recruitment drive, targeting South Africans in Europe who will be out of contract in June at the end of the current northern-hemisphere season, as well as players from other South African provinces, especially those who hail from the Eastern Cape.’

Southern Kings (to play Sharks) – 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Marcello Sampson, 13 Dwayne Jenner, 12 Wayne Stevens, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Shane Gates, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Vleis Engelbrecht, 7 Mpho Mbiyozo, 6 Boetie Britz, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Darron Nell (c), 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.
Subs: 16 Bobby Dyer, 17 Zane Killian, 18 Andre Schlechter, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Reynier Bernardo, 21 Thembelani Bholi, 22 Siya Mangaliso, 22 Danie Faasen, 23 Earl Rose, 24 Matthew Tayler-Smith, 25 Kieran Goss.

By Simon Borchardt, in Port Elizabeth


401 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 » Show All

  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 06:27 am

    5 games in 2m days trial dragons!

  • 2.WOLFMAN21: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 06:59 am

    It will be interesting to see who they try to sign, and who is willing to play for them.

    Will they try to get the talented, relatively young players like Pienaar, Guthro Steenkamp, Francois Steyn? Or the older players who have been in Europe for a while – Big Joe, Daan Human, Jacques Cronje? Or the younger players who never really featured in South Africa – Petrus du Plessis, Paul Bosch etc.?

    There aren’t that many South African players of Super 15 standard playing in Europe, and definitely not enough to make the Kings competitive.

    Or maybe they will hope to take the decent players from the relegated team? Presuming its the Lions, will Jantjes, Mapoe and Strauss play with Kings in the Super 15 and Lions in the Currie Cup? Or will they all sign for different teams, essentially not strengthening the Kings, and gutting the Lions?

  • 3.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:01 am

    OK.

    Everyone go copy paste all your comments since Sunday and plak them here.

    Another Kings thread.

  • 4.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:20 am

    Looks like another day of B O L L O X articles. I wonder if we will see the following:

    Mitch moderately satisfied with lions preparation.
    Coetzee cautiously satisfied wih Stormers preparation.
    Plum positively satisfied with Sharks preparation.
    Naka not satisfied with Cheetas preparation.
    Ludeke largely satisfied with Bulls preparation.

    Sheez it must be tough being a Keo journalist. Wonder if that junior writer has been filled, not sure there are too many writers out there who can match this type of quality article.

  • 5.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:22 am

    These Kings are like a dirty, bearded hobo. Popping up next to your car window with a sign and a bowl on a daily basis.

    Now you can either roll up your window, or react irritably by hurling a bit of abuse. Seems like most people are preferring the latter course of action.

  • 6.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:27 am

    @5,
    No issues with the Kings my side. Seems like they are taking advantage of the freedom that the new SA is providing. Demand, and you will get what you want.

  • 7.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:33 am

    @BULLET(BULLET)-4:

    Hey Bullet, when did Naka say that ;-)

  • 8.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:39 am

    @Slarti: naka’s already making excuses on Boots ‘n All. Crying about how difficult it is to ‘blend’ cheetahs & griquas players :roll:

  • 9.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:40 am

    Hooliha Tac!
    :lol:

    Everyone cutting ‘n pasting already?

  • 10.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:43 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-8:

    Can imagine it is hard for a useless coach…he has had them for how many years now?

  • 11.RL: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:52 am

    Keo and his minions can punt the Kings as much as they want, promoting their client and preferred Bok captain as much as they want …….. it’s not going to happen.

  • 12.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 07:57 am

    Am dying to see Watsembi playing.

    Don’t think he even put the jersey on yet.

  • 13.RL: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:01 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-10: it was hard for kakas team to put the Kings away 33-20 … not good at all.

  • 14.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:08 am

    @RL(RL)-13:

    Maybe but is it true that Brussouw was the only one to ran out for the Cheetahs after half-time?

  • 15.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:14 am

    Here’s a new question regarding the Kings. Is Solly a decent coach? Can he make a bunch of mediocre players into a winning team?

    Mitchell did it with the Lions… Lets face it, there were no big names until Mitchell made them so… And they still have to prove themselves this season as a quality outfit. They signed 3 ‘big’ names: Maku, James, van der linde, Mapoe…

  • 16.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:16 am

    Stormers fans getting a little antsy that they arent number 1 on the Keo Article Charts (KAC) anymore.

  • 17.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:16 am

    @Jeez(Jeez)-15: Hmmmm.

    I counted 4 names there.

    Just saying…

  • 18.John Galt: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:20 am

    @WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-2:
    You reckon this is going to be thier plan giong forward? I fail to see how hiring any of those players is going to ensure local player development in that hot bed of talent.

  • 19.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:20 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-17:

    Hehehe tis two ‘big’ names and two ‘half-big’ names making three in total! I thought it was obvious from the names mentioned…

  • 20.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:21 am

    @John Galt(John Galt)-18:

    Says it right there in the last paragraph or the article.

  • 21.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:22 am

    @Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-19: :mrgreen:

    Fair enough.

    My bad.

  • 22.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:23 am

    And while I am here, not long to go now.

    http://www.superbru.com/superrugby/pool.asp?p=230425

    Pool name: Muppits fly Business Class
    Pool code: earnpent

  • 23.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:24 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-17:
    Lol Maku was a late entry….sorry

  • 24.chch: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:26 am

    What happened to the cricket threads on here?

  • 25.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:29 am

    @chch(chch)-24:

    Died a very long time ago, you been in jail or something?

  • 26.chch: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:31 am

    I think it’s called the off season

  • 27.chch: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:32 am

    Thanks for the info though.
    Was it because this site is now attached to some other media organisation?
    Or did I dream that :)

  • 28.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:36 am

    Very long off season you had…

    They just dropped the cricket one day more than a year ago and all questions about it went, like most questions to the ‘keo elite’, unanswered.

  • 29.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:37 am

    @chch(chch)-27: no, it’s because cricket is so f.u.kk.e.n boring that nobody gives a sh.i.te

  • 30.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:38 am

    @chch(chch)-24: Gareth informed me that its too much work for them.

  • 31.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:39 am

    @the peanut gallery(peanut)-29:

    What he said.

  • 32.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:43 am

    Does Keo still produce the SA Cricket magazine?

  • 33.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:44 am

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-31: hey tac, i really dig this new persona of yours. it has a hard, cold edge to it. if i was a chick i’d also stalk you – like dawn is doing – but i’m not (a chick) and i don’t smaak you – just to be clear.

  • 34.chch: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:45 am

    ok thanks
    SA 52/4 after 9 overs
    It passes the time during off season

    I kinda got sick of one particular so called Kiwi with some psychological condition about anything to do with Auckland. He wanted to visit me to physically harm me and followed up with continual harassment. Some stuff every time. I got bored with the site (well with the craap).

    But nice to be back on

  • 35.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:47 am

    Here’s a new question regarding the Kings. Is Solly a decent coach? Can he make a bunch of mediocre players into a winning team? Mitchell did it with the Lions… Lets face it, there were no big names until Mitchell made them so… And they still have to prove themselves this season as a quality outfit. They signed 4 ‘big’ names: Maku, James, van der linde, Mapoe…

  • 36.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:50 am

    @chch(chch)-34: welcome back. there can never be too many kiwis on here…..

  • 37.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:51 am

    @the peanut gallery(peanut)-33:

    My persona depends on the time of day. I take a while to wake up.

  • 38.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:52 am

    @chch(chch)-34:

    We could send him to an island somewhere, can drop extraball and his besties to keep him company!

    70/4 now, I see Duminy is doing it in singles…we may get to 120 if not dot balls…

  • 39.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:52 am

    @Jeez(Jeez)-35:

    Err. Guess I’m really not awake yet. I could’ve sworn I’ve read that already.

  • 40.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:56 am

    Lukas Watsembi is being rested like Lord Ritchbum.

    He will be back to face the minnows of the VC.

    Duminy and Ontong can’t hit the ball off the square.

  • 41.chch: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:58 am

    Cheers TPG and Slarti

    SA lucky to escape that catch and LBW

    Going to be interesting

  • 42.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 08:59 am

    Kiwi crowd booing.

    Very emboerit.

    Probably Caner and the rest of his gollums.

  • 43.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:00 am

    Nice from Ontong.

    At last.

    Moigeslaan.

    Six loopies.

  • 44.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:01 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-40:

    Luke is only rested against the teams that have a reason to hold a grudge against him.

    That’s the Bulls, Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions and Stormers, to be clear.

    In the case of the Stormers – it’s because of Schalk Burger.

    In the case of the Sharks, it’s the whole John Smit story.

    In the case of the Lions, Cheetahs and Bulls, it’s every guy in the team who just hate his guts out of principle.

  • 45.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:02 am

    Much better…

    14.5

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX

    14.4

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX

    14.3

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX

  • 46.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:03 am

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-44:

    And in the case of the Boks, it’s Heyneke Meyer, for what Cheeky did to rig the voting in favour of Snor the last time around.

    That last one is a bit of a bummer for Keo and his “Luke for Bok captain” campaign.

  • 47.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:03 am

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-44: what’s the john smit story?

  • 48.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:03 am

    Even better…

    14.6

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX

    14.5

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX, this is fuller outside off but it doesn’t matter, Ontong goes for three in three and gets it, sends it sailing into the stands at midwicket

    14.4

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX, full toss and Ontong makes it two in two, slaps it flat over the rope at his favourite cow corner

    14.3

    Williamson to Ontong, SIX, comes down the track and heaves a ball outside off across the line and over the boundary at cow corner

  • 49.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:04 am

    God I’m weary of all the King’s carthorses and all the King’s journeymen.

    I’d almost prefer another day of Stormers propaganda.

  • 50.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    17 Feb 2012, 09:04 am

    What the hell is going on with Ontong??

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