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
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17 Feb 2012, 17:03 pm
@steblooi(steblooi)-343: do you think the Lions and john mitchell have monopoly on build structures, synergy and creating an environment for success? hell no!
when the lions lost ALL their games in 2010, what MERITTED their super rugby participation?
they were kak on the field and as we now know their finances are even more kak. i’m still looking for merit
17 Feb 2012, 17:05 pm
3. The SE Cape franchise shall be entrenched in the Super 14 Competition for the 2007 & 2008 rugby seasons.
4. The South African team finishing at the bottom of the log in 2006, will automatically be replaced by the SE Cape for the 2007 season.
17 Feb 2012, 17:05 pm
@David(David)-348:
The idea is to introduce increasing number of non white players into the Kings
The Cheetahs’ surplus will be obsorbed by the Western Forces, the Brumbies and the Rebels, few top notch players – like WP Nel – and great prospects will be absorbed into Europe and Oz too
Simple
17 Feb 2012, 17:07 pm
@charo(charo)-349: no need to be so altruistic
17 Feb 2012, 17:07 pm
@RL(RL)-352:
SARU lost two (2) court cases in 2006/7, bear that in mind
17 Feb 2012, 17:12 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-355: yep!
In a strongly worded statement McKeever explained what was going on behind the scenes to ensure that the Lions would take part in next year’s Vodacom Super 14.
“The latest SA Rugby wrecking ball tactics are being driven by Koos Basson and Basil Haddad (acting managing director and CFO and past CEO of Border and previous MD of the Despatch newspaper), who tabled this proposal to the three presidents of Border, Eastern Province and SWD, the day before the Springbok Wallaby Test at Ellis Park and are using their ‘inside’ mole and contact of acting CEO of Border, Syd Loubser, to be their foot soldier and Judas within Border and the Spears,” said McKeever.
“This is intended to derail the Spears High Court hearing for a Rule 49-11 on 26 September for the enforcement of 4 August order and compensation for the substitution of 14 games from the 2006 Absa Currie Cup. This is R7.5 million, plus the R6.4 million still owed by SA Rugby till December 2006 is R14.9 million.
“[These are] reasons why SA Rugby are scrambling. It also screams that SA Rugby have no confidence in their court application on the 26 September.”
17 Feb 2012, 17:16 pm
people scream “merit” when none of the nonsense by SARU that “entrenched” the Lions and Cheetahs was neither legal nor fair!
gym calls (no peter davies)
17 Feb 2012, 17:19 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-357: simple, Cheeky and his mates have to go back to the guppies and ask to be included into their franchise, minnows need s big boy to hold their hands.
17 Feb 2012, 17:23 pm
@ transformation
I agree that not having a Super spot is damaging for your region. I agree that SARU screwed you guys back in 2006(?)
The issue now is that we need to protect SA rugby. SANZAR has refused to allow another team. We somehow need to convince them to do it.
The aussies lack a domestic competition – which the conference system has solved. Their viewership is up something like 40%
If we include an additional team we can’t keep the conference system because of the unequal number. So that is my argument – SARU as promised an idealistic stance whilst ignoring reality.
There is no easy solution anymore – you can celebrate because the Kings have been guaranteed entry into the comp. One if five supporters of the existing unions (theoretically) will be very disillusioned next year as their team will be gone.
My personal suggestion would be to start with relegation/promotion but that SARU has to financially compensate the union relegated suffiencently to
a) keep its players
b) pay back sponsors
c) change the schedule of the vodacom cup to mirror the super comp and
d) increase the vodacom cup’s prize money to a substantial amount of millions.
This will ensure financial viability for the losing franchise and actually build our depth as for the SA teams the Super comp would become something of a champions league instead of an entitled position to a few select unions.
17 Feb 2012, 17:24 pm
@steblooi(steblooi)-341:
@RL(RL)-345:
why not compare the australian situation and ours…? because it destroys the validity of the your perspective…?
take colour out of it… they have used super rugby to develop rugby in two news centers… why not south africa… why not the kings…?
there is no difference imo…
you go on about merit… yet the cheetahs and lions (no offense to their fans) have failed year after year after year propping up the super rugby log… where is your merit now… why do you reward mediocrity…? why are they entitled to a franchise/team/whatever… after so much failure…? why not give a chance to someone else and see if they can succeed… they’re hardly likely to do worse are they…
BTW… james o connor and david pocock are both recent phenomena… and neither are ‘local’ boys… o connor born in queensland and pocock in zim… so even now they’re not really developing local players… so why should the kings have to field 22 e-cape born and bred players from the get-go…?
17 Feb 2012, 17:28 pm
@ UFO
Like I said, in the Aus situation nobody stood to lose.
With our situation you are threatening entire regions!
17 Feb 2012, 17:30 pm
@ transformation
I said that the Lions didn’t deserve their spot previously, but you still didn’t answer me – what will happen if the Lions and Cheetahs achieve this year?
Will SARU cut either one of the Bulls, Cheetahs or Sharks?
What do we do now? SARU has screwed us all.
17 Feb 2012, 17:32 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-356:
A good reminder
17 Feb 2012, 17:35 pm
howzit guys, what time does the kings vs sharks game kick off tonight?
17 Feb 2012, 17:36 pm
@ Hondo
About Davies?
17 Feb 2012, 17:36 pm
and is luke playing?
17 Feb 2012, 17:42 pm
@ rangerman
no, too busy puking…
17 Feb 2012, 17:43 pm
@steblooi(steblooi)-361:
“threatening entire regions”… you kidding right…?
the gauteng region under threat… the economic hub of africa threatened…?
bloem threatened…? the agricultural centre of the country… threatened…?
by the loss of a super rugby competition..? c’mon on…
how have the lions and cheetahs contributed to their regions…? the lions had to issue gps units to spectators so they could find them after the matches… (hopefully the CC success will change this) so what would be lost if they were only currie cup teams until they improved…?
but the eastern cape is not a wealthy province and so a franchise there could make a significant contribution…
but what you’re saying is that the cheetahs and lions are entitled to their place no matter how badly they produce and no performance or standards clause is necessary to see they improve…
you’re saying their historically mediocre results must be rewarded, entrenched and protected… simply because…? because why…?
people go on about merit selections… where is the merit in teams failing constantly…?
17 Feb 2012, 17:48 pm
hey ranger…
think it’s at 7…
is it on tv…?
and no watson is not playing…
17 Feb 2012, 17:50 pm
@steblooi(steblooi)-362: that is for SARU to decide…
17 Feb 2012, 17:54 pm
@ufo(ufo)-368: you sing a good song but I can guarantee you that you will be singing a different tune if/when the Stormers get relegated.
17 Feb 2012, 17:58 pm
@ufo(ufo)-368: people are refusing to get it, either out of prejudice, spite or stupidity.
they have no legs to stand on.
17 Feb 2012, 17:59 pm
@steblooi(steblooi)-359:
There’s a small fly in the ointment of your suggestion. SARU is contracted to ensure that the top 150 players are in the S15. The relegated team would have to release them, somehow.
17 Feb 2012, 18:06 pm
@RL(RL)-371:
hehehe…
you can guarantee…?
only thing you have guaranteed is to make yourself look really silly…
i have written on keo several times recently that IF it were up to me… i would reduce super rugby to 9 teams… 3 from each country… which would guarantee the dropping of two teams from each… in straight relegation play-offs… and the teams would have to fight their way back the next year… and yes… i actually wrote… “even if it meant the stormers lost out…”
you see… unlike you… although i love rugby and love WP… the only way sa rugby will improve is if unions are held accountable for their results and performances…
and then union management (particularly like wp and the lions) would HAVE to make good sound business and rugby decisions otherwise they’d fail and be relegated…
so pity you don’t read other people posts before making guarantees… hehehe…
so where does that leave your guarantee…? up your poop without a chute…??
and BTW… i also said i’d still go down to newlands and watch rugby because i would still support my team… i’ve watched many a vodacom cup game when there’s been nothing else played…
17 Feb 2012, 18:07 pm
Have checked 3 differet tv guides and doesnt seem they showing the game. Am very dissapointed. What is wrong with dstv !
17 Feb 2012, 18:08 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-372:
it’s impossible to wake up a woman who’s pretending to sleep…
17 Feb 2012, 18:09 pm
@ufo(ufo)-368:
If you remember, ALL the Franchises had to make submissions to be part of the S15 and they were awarded a franchise based on those submissions. The easiest route for SARU would be to revisit and assess the performance of the Franchises according to the submissions that won them a franchise, seeing as the contracts are due to expire and need to be renewed. I seem to remember that the 5th franchise was a close decision between the Spears and Cheetahs.
17 Feb 2012, 18:13 pm
@ufo(ufo)-374: so if I understand you correctly, you were not of the thousands and thousands of weeepeee supporters who went to war 1997, forcing SARU to create the franchise system, thus entrenching the weepee into Super rugby ….. because they are after all ENTITLED.
ps are you forgetting that I am boycotting Stormer WP threads, I refuse to encourage JC and may have missed out on your views.
17 Feb 2012, 18:13 pm
@David(David)-373:
I don’t agree. When the Kings are introduced to Super rugby next year there will be 120 elite players representing South Africa. And SARU will be in breach. Once again.
Don’t expect the relegated franchises players to automatically flock to the Kings. They will vote with their feet and look north. The Kings will end up picking the 2nd raters from the relegated franchise.
17 Feb 2012, 18:14 pm
@David(David)-377:
yeah david…
takle the emotions out of it and make sound fact-based, results-driven business decisions…
17 Feb 2012, 18:18 pm
@RL(RL)-378:
lolololol
i was pissed off with them for playing so badly… but had no problem with the result… everyone knew what would happen at the beginning of that season…
“ps are you forgetting that I am boycotting Stormer WP threads”
and yet you are silly enough to “guarantee” what wp supporters think…?
17 Feb 2012, 18:18 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-375: hugger I am no longer at war against your guppies …. this year I am going to battle the Stormers. Yes it is true.
17 Feb 2012, 18:19 pm
@ufo(ufo)-374:
You want to reduce Super rugby to 9 teams? How does this tie in with the IRB’s goal to grow the sport on a global basis.
The solution to all this – and I’ve said it a 100 times – is for the Kings to wait until 2016. Which gives SARU more than enough time to motivate an expanded Super tournament. Instead of a S16, we may end up with a S18. Double what you’re proposing.
17 Feb 2012, 18:21 pm
Damn game not on TV
17 Feb 2012, 18:31 pm
382@pussycat…hahahahahaha COOK ! but thats funny, remember they will be needing a song as well.
17 Feb 2012, 18:31 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-379:
The other Franchises will also pick them up. Hell, the Sharks do it to the Cheetahs every year.
17 Feb 2012, 18:41 pm
@David(David)-386:
With the entry of the Kings, lets just say SA rugby will be the weaker because of it. But Heyneke will recognise the talent, I suppose.
Even if they’re playing Vodacom Cup rugby and not the Kings.
17 Feb 2012, 18:41 pm
Let the rugby starts,
maybe the Pink Bulls or the Winders will end up at the bottom?
That well could happened if Pietie v. Zyl was unleashed on Jonker and Joubert the swindlers
17 Feb 2012, 19:26 pm
anyone know the score in the Sharks game ?
17 Feb 2012, 19:50 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-389: 10 – 3 Sharks
17 Feb 2012, 19:53 pm
thank you
17 Feb 2012, 19:55 pm
You cant just give the Kings a go because they might do better than the lions. They wont! Thats not good for business or rugby. Rather a lions team that wins a game or three than a Kings team that gets killed by 50 points every game by 2nd string teams resting their star players. You have to earn your stripes. The kings have done nothing to prove they are good enough. Beat the team you are replacing and you’ve earned it. Democracy does not work in sport. Its simple, either you are good enough or you arent. You cant replace a below average team with a **** one.
17 Feb 2012, 20:11 pm
Apparently conditions not good to play rugby.
17 -3 Sharks.
17 Feb 2012, 20:14 pm
score please
17 Feb 2012, 20:21 pm
24 – 6 Sharks
17 Feb 2012, 20:24 pm
31 – 6 Sharks
15 min left
17 Feb 2012, 20:36 pm
31 -13 Sharks.
17 Feb 2012, 21:06 pm
Solly’s satisfied? I think Solly would be satisfied if his players simply made it to the games without getting drunk or lost before the game.
17 Feb 2012, 21:09 pm
thx HHS.
17 Feb 2012, 21:16 pm
Die ouens lyk vir my soos ‘n ‘kaas-en-wyn’ span
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