‘Kings can make Super Rugby surprise’
19 Sep 2012
Andries Strauss believes the Southern Kings can make an immediate impact in Super Rugby next season.
Last week, it was confirmed that Cheetahs centre Strauss and Sharks lock Steven Sykes signed new deals with the Kings for 2013. They were the first recruitments to join the Eastern Cape franchise since its Super Rugby status was confirmed in August.
However, with the Kings only given a one-year guarantee in the competition, it’s believed that they will struggle to build a competitive squad as players would be hesitant to commit to a team that is likely to face relegation (the last-placed South African franchise will face the Lions in two rounds of promotion-relegation play-offs).
But Strauss reckons this belief could change.
‘Seeing a guy like Steven Sykes signing for the Kings motivated me to join them,’ Strauss told keo.co.za. ‘His addition proved that the Kings will be able to sign the players needed to do well next season. Hopefully more players will start making the same move too.
‘I also see it as a good career move for me,’ he continued. ‘I’ve struggled with form during my time with the Cheetahs. I think I can play better rugby. A different scenery at the Kings could be the change I need to improve.’
It will be a tough challenge for the Kings next year.
Super Rugby trends have proven that franchises struggle in their debut campaigns. The Western Force and Melbourne Rebels were the wooden spoonists after their first runs in 2006 and 2011 respectively, and continue to finish in the bottom-half of the table. The Cheetahs and Lions have also disappointed since their split from the Cats initiative six years ago.
The Kings will also have to deal with Saru’s expectation of notable transformation in team selections. Out of the 51 players the EP Kings have fielded in the Currie Cup First Division so far, 15 have been players of colour.
However, Strauss believes the Kings will manage if they recruit smartly.
‘The rumours that the Kings might sign a few Argentine players is promising,’ said Strauss. ‘Experience, especially international experience, is vital for any team.
‘There are only so many Springboks, and most of them are signed to the bigger franchises. So getting in some players, who boast international experience, will help the team do well, and they’ll be able to pass on their knowledge to the younger guys.
‘I know the Force and Rebels didn’t do well in their first couple of seasons, but the Kings have a better platform to work from. They’re not working from scratch. A guy like [Kings director of rugby] Alan Solomons has been with the team for a while now.
‘So the Kings can do well. I think it’s possible to avoid last place in the South African conference if the correct steps are taken.’
By Gareth Duncan
203 Comments
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19 Sep 2012, 15:35 pm
@grant10-94: Most definitely not an opensider, ball skills not suited to 8, but a definite probability at blindside…
19 Sep 2012, 15:35 pm
@thesaint-99: Hehehehehe
19 Sep 2012, 15:36 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-97: Ag never mind Transie… When he can’t answer a question other than a copy and paste, he resorts to and Eastern Cape speciality: The “truth” according to OJ Simpson
19 Sep 2012, 15:36 pm
@Skeppie-61: Post of the day.
19 Sep 2012, 15:37 pm
@RL-100: Then why retire after the match? Is he actually going to make a 1 match comeback?
19 Sep 2012, 15:38 pm
@thesaint-95: the bulls with all their resources have developed only ONE and you say it is ENOUGH bwahahahahahahaha
19 Sep 2012, 15:38 pm
@Heavens Game-103: Or the “truth” according to the guy he buys his weed from….
19 Sep 2012, 15:39 pm
@Transformation-106: BHAHAHAHAHA the EASTERN CAPE with all their TALENT developed F*ALL… BWAHAHAHA…
19 Sep 2012, 15:39 pm
@Heavens Game-103: Hehe. His usual composed posts went to a rather aggrsive ‘fokkoff’ last Saturday. True story
19 Sep 2012, 15:40 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-67: Who knows boet, better stadium maybe?
19 Sep 2012, 15:40 pm
kom mense julle raak luskindig –
go and watch!!!!
Listen, last time i got 370 views, kom nou make a move!!!
if i reach 1000, it will help ou pieletjie make ends meet
19 Sep 2012, 15:41 pm
@grant10-78: I would sooner have him at NO 8 than DV.Needs to polish up on linking skills.DV does not have
that anyway.All he offers is grunt.My opinion.
19 Sep 2012, 15:43 pm
@PielNeus-111: ….ends meet with another pieletjie…..siek donner!!!!!
19 Sep 2012, 15:43 pm
@ryecatcher-104: Ngiyabonga Gakhulu, Thanks, Dankie and whatever the martian word for thanks is…
19 Sep 2012, 15:44 pm
@thesaint-108: talent poached at high school, watch the Kings now boytjie
it is a putrid stat for the bulls!
19 Sep 2012, 15:45 pm
@Skeppie-114: beep beep ….fokking fanks……
19 Sep 2012, 15:45 pm
@thesaint-105: sounds like a farewell 1 match return.
19 Sep 2012, 15:45 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-109: Lol… Composed is nothing… Transie regularly resorts to slurs and lies because intellectually it seems he struggles a bit to sustain a coherent argument… The kisshen maybe gets too hot too often for the little umfana…
19 Sep 2012, 15:46 pm
@Transformation-115: I will watch them, and then in 2014, all of this will hopefully be over…
19 Sep 2012, 15:49 pm
@Heavens Game-118: “kishen getting hot”? is that like Rhodesia/Zim was like for you and you had to escape to Natal?
19 Sep 2012, 15:50 pm
@Heavens Game-63: They are there
courtesy of the SARU snake oil salesmen.Nevertheless I will support them wholeheartedly against OZ & NZ teams.
19 Sep 2012, 15:51 pm
@Heavens Game-118: In that case you better watch out….I can feel a “fuckoff” headed your way or has the immune system learned to take those on the chin?
19 Sep 2012, 15:52 pm
@Transformation-120: Was HG head chef at the Victoria hotel?
19 Sep 2012, 15:54 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-97: why would they want to be a franchise on their own when they were included by SARU as part of the Cheetahs franchise and currently still see VALUE in that association? think man.
the Cheetahs unlike the Lions still PAY their franchise partners their share of the broadcast money…
19 Sep 2012, 15:55 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-113: dis net my lowest kommon dominator..
Maar Skeppies post daar bo so lovely. Soos an engel in my oere gaan lekker pippie,
ons moet saam haal ne.
19 Sep 2012, 16:00 pm
@Transformation-124: But as one of the top tier unions in the country surely a franchise on their own would mean even more revenue.
I can see this going nowhere though as you will never let that Kings boner of yours let go of your brain.
19 Sep 2012, 16:01 pm
@Skeppie-123: he says he’s a janitor…
19 Sep 2012, 16:02 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-126: revenue generated from which stadium in Kimberley, from which fan base? dink.
19 Sep 2012, 16:06 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-126:
The S15 is a regional competition, not a provincial one. How often does that need repeating?
19 Sep 2012, 16:09 pm
@Transformation-128: Money makes money Transie. Like I said I am not going to convince you and neither will you convince me so why bother. Your opinion vs mine with no outcome possible.
19 Sep 2012, 16:11 pm
@Transformation-127: Ok Transie but answer my question at least. What do you do for a living?
19 Sep 2012, 16:11 pm
@David-129: David we are sending these guys to get hammered every week and we call it ‘development’. Cannot agree with that principle.
19 Sep 2012, 16:16 pm
@Transformation-120: Nope… Natal has, and always been, where my roots lie. Nevertheless I am glad you reckon my superior ability to rattle you is due to my perceived Rhodesianness…
Rhodesians always were able to rattle those without the intellect or ability to sustain a coherent argument or challenge…
Maybe they just born to Baasmanskap
19 Sep 2012, 16:19 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-132:
It’s development of rugby in the region. Not just players but supporters as well.
Just look at how many Lions players are jumping ship now that they won’t play Super rugby and try and appreciate why the EC has been unable to attract or retain players for the same reason.
19 Sep 2012, 16:22 pm
@David-129: Semantic bullshit… Nothing more.
19 Sep 2012, 16:41 pm
Alan Solomons and his coaches will have the Kings playing as a good solid team by the end of the Super season.
Rassie did something similar by bringing in players who steadied the ship while he built up the academy to feed new players through into the first team. We see the results from JdJ to Kolisi.
Watch the Kings go. Not hard to improve upon the useless Super Pussies.
19 Sep 2012, 16:41 pm
@Heavens Game-49:
No, your’e just a naaier, not a de-naaier (as in naai-jou-maatjie)
19 Sep 2012, 16:42 pm
I think the Kings 1st victory in the S15 will come against the Sharks.
Now that would be hilarious.
19 Sep 2012, 16:48 pm
@TooMuchRugby-137: Sorry.. your flirting means nothing to me… I aint a Capey, that means I aint your type… Women only this side…
19 Sep 2012, 16:52 pm
PrevNextWatson revealed they are in talks with European and Argentinean players
Despite denials by the Stormers management, the Southern Kings on Wednesday named Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis among their first batch of high-profile signings.
Kings President Cheeky Watson told a media briefing in Port Elizabeth that Catrakilis, Free State Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss and Sharks lock Steven Sykes have all signed all signed two-year contracts with the Kings – effective on November 2012.
This appears to end speculation over the future of Catrakilis, who was presented to the media at Newlands on Wednesday. The 23-year-old, who has yet to make his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers, will start at flyhalf for WP against Griquas in a decisive Currie Cup match in Cape Town on Saturday.
While the media were unable to ask the No.10 any questions about his move to the Kings, the men from PE had no hesitation in ‘unveiling’ him as one of their star signings.
WP management recently claimed said that they have made a “counter offer” since the Kings’ initial offer.
However, this website has been reliably told that they will be unable to match the offer of a franchise which on Wednesday revealed that they have an annual salary budget of R40-million to ensure they field a competitive squad.
Twelve players from the current EP team, including the captain Luke Watson, have signed contract extensions through 2013.
The Kings boss, Watson, also revealed that they are in talks to sign more high-profile names ahead of the Super Rugby debut.
He said he was talking to a number of European-based players and several players in Argentina
19 Sep 2012, 17:40 pm
@PielNeus-88:
fuuuuuunny!!
19 Sep 2012, 17:44 pm
@Skeppie-61: Was your dad telling you all this at your house/shack Kwa-Mashu?, I guess not.
19 Sep 2012, 17:47 pm
@katman-65: You only speak for ignorant racist c*nts like yourself.
19 Sep 2012, 17:51 pm
@grant10-140:
What I find interesting is that Watson talks about who’s signed for the Kings and that 12 EP players have extended contracts. There’s no mention of Border or SWD. One can only assume that the Kings Franchise R40 million wage budget is going directly to strengthen EP and not their partners.
19 Sep 2012, 17:52 pm
@Heavens Game-96: Take “Kings” out and insert “Lions”, and there you are, at least its theory about the Kings and its proven fact about the Lions…
19 Sep 2012, 18:06 pm
@David-144: Just realy hope they prove the detractors wrong and do well……I think the long term bebefits will be fantastic if they can remain in Superrugby for a period of time. Use the money generation to build a strong Academy, etc…..
Lots of emotion about obviously, but the big picture could be a huge blessing ….
anyway, I dont want to get involved with the politics…
19 Sep 2012, 18:09 pm
@grant10-146:
Apparently the region has already started academies.
19 Sep 2012, 18:15 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-132: But we are doing the same with the Lions, what do you call it?, fun?
19 Sep 2012, 18:16 pm
@David-147: Good news that….hope they spread the love down East London way as well……I went to the Poms test in PE ….what a magnificent stadium, and the crowds hunger and passion for top rugby was abundant…
I am sure it is the correct long term decision…
19 Sep 2012, 18:17 pm
braai with mates calls
outta here
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