Kings on the rise
18 Oct 2012
GARETH DUNCAN says the Kings should become a stronger entity than the Cheetahs, no matter what happens in the upcoming Currie Cup promotion-relegation play-offs.
The Free State Cheetahs are expected to beat the EP Kings in the Currie Cup promotion-relegation battle over the next fortnight.
Despite the Kings’ unbeaten run to the First Division title and the Cheetahs’ current injury crisis (a loss of 13 first-choice players, including flyhalf Johan Goosen, flank Heinrich Brussow and prop Coenie Oosthuizen), the Bloemfontein union is still considered favourites as they boast more players with experience of playing at higher levels.
I think the Kings will provide a challenge against a weakened Free State outfit. But I admit that domestic promotion would be a surprise, especially when you consider the fact that the current Kings side isn’t much stronger than the team that lost to the Pumas in the 2010 play-offs.
But look beyond this result and you’ll notice that the Southern Kings are making progress; to the extent where they are likely to become a more competitive team than the Cheetahs as soon as next season.
While the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls will be Super Rugby title contenders in 2013, the Cheetahs and Kings will battle in the wooden spoon race.
It’s something both franchises will want to avoid as the last-placed team is expected to face the Lions in the first South African Super Rugby promotion-relegation play-offs. I say expected because this format could still change if voted against at the next Saru Exco meeting; but that’s another story.
Many pundits expect the Kings to struggle because of the trend set by other tournament debutants. The Western Force and Melbourne Rebels have both finished last in their first campaigns in 2006 and 2011 respectively.
However, both Australian teams struggled because they were established from scratch. The Kings have a platform to work from in the EP Kings, Border and SWD.
They have a quality mentor in director of rugby Alan Solomons. He’s clearly had a positive effect on the EP Kings, who have only lost 10 out of 57 games in all domestic competitions since his arrival in June 2010. That’s a winning percentage of 82.4%.
The Kings team that will play in Super Rugby will also be much stronger than the side that has featured on the domestic scene over the last two seasons. They have signed the likes of centre Andries Strauss, lock Steven Sykes, flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis and hooker Bandise Maku, and have four internationals in wing Paul Perez, prop Clint Newland, scrumhalf Nicolas Vergallo and utility back Hadleigh Parkes. More reinforcements will arrive during the build-up to the 2013 campaign.
The only complication is that the Kings will only be allowed two of those foreigners in their final squad that they declare to Saru. The other two will be allowed in the wider squads and will be able to be called up in case of injury. There’s also a chance that Saru might accommodate the Kings, who are still requesting that the restrictions be lifted.
The Cheetahs haven’t impressed in Super Rugby since their readmission in 2006. They have won 27 out of 84 games (a winning percentage of just 32%) during this period and their highest finish has been 10th place.
They have lost key players since this year’s Super Rugby campaign in No 8 Ashley Johnson (London Wasps, England), prop WP Nel (Edinburgh, Scotland) and lock George Earle (Scarlets, Wales). The departures of flyhalf Sias Ebersohn (Western Force), lock Izak van der Westhuizen (Edinbugh), prop Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls) and Strauss at the end of the year will also cost the squad depth.
In reply, the Cheetahs have only signed on props Caylib Oosthuizen (Lions) and Rossouw de Klerk (Bulls), centre Johann Sadie (Bulls) and flyhalf Elgar Watts (Boland). Griquas will provide some depth, but the Cheetahs won’t be able to afford injuries to key players.
If you look a bit deeper, you’d see the Free State and EP junior teams are also experiencing contrasting fortunes.
This season, the Free State U21s only won four out 12 league games. Their U19s only won three of their 12 fixtures.
The EP U21s and U19s topped their respective logs in the B Divisions, with the former team securing the provincial title. They will compete for promotion to the A Division.
Transformation is also evident in EP’s junior teams, which bodes well for the future. The Southern Kings will also be able to tap into the top black talent in SWD and Border’s junior structures. However, Super Rugby participation will be vital in retaining these young players.
While many in the South African rugby fraternity are worried about the Lions, it looks like the Cheetahs are also struggling. And at all levels too.
These are still early days, but a power change has already begun by the looks of it. The Kings are on the rise, while the Cheetahs are headed in another direction.
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327 Comments
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18 Oct 2012, 11:55 am
@grant10-185: Maybe its the fact that both of them have french names they are being linked to france?
And how kak must you be if someone approaches Jacques Potgieter before you?
18 Oct 2012, 11:56 am
@katman-193: more emo stuff, you’re quite garrulous, i’ll give you that
18 Oct 2012, 11:58 am
@gunther-196: you never watched the games Gunman!
unfair is unfair
18 Oct 2012, 12:00 pm
@Horings-127: “It seems it is better to be on the bench or injured than to actually have played for the Boks.” With the performance of our Boks this year never a truer word was spoken.
However I do agree with your post!
18 Oct 2012, 12:03 pm
@Transformation-202: That was neither emo nor garrulous. Have you really run out of things to say? It’s only just gone 12:00.
18 Oct 2012, 12:05 pm
@trupisero-201: Oh that’s a low blow……
Spies is sloppy seconds?
18 Oct 2012, 12:07 pm
Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:07 pm
Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:08 pm
Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:08 pm
Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:09 pm
Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:11 pm
@Blitzbok-207: something tells me you’re upset with the midget?
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-206: mmm…sounds very much like a Stormers story…
18 Oct 2012, 12:12 pm
hell, there’s a moeruvva echo in here!
18 Oct 2012, 12:14 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-206:
The didn’t think they could afford him.
They weren’t going to offer Haselnegger 15 million for three years.
18 Oct 2012, 12:14 pm
@trupisero-212:
You are very adept at reading between the lines trupis.
18 Oct 2012, 12:15 pm
I think somebody needs a lie down.
This must be the same dude that came up with the Bryce Lawrence death threats that my chum Hurri was going on about.
18 Oct 2012, 12:16 pm
@trupisero-212: Except it isn’t……..
@Blitzbok-207: So what you are saying is:
“Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Correct?
18 Oct 2012, 12:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-217: it’s not WHAT he is saying, it’s HOW he is saying it.
did you make sure you got all 27 exclamation marks?
18 Oct 2012, 12:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-217:
no I think you’ve misunderstood him
what he meant to say was:
“Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Amazing really.
He and Fuckadilly “no ob is too small” Runtcunt could be twins.
18 Oct 2012, 12:23 pm
@shooter-218: I counted them!
@gunther-219: Ahhhhh, now I see it. The skies have cleared. What he is ACTUALLY saying is:
“Keo you fukkking cokhole go **** yourself between your anal flaps u fukkking chicken sh!!t cheeky watson bum boy. you fukking disgrace and your little mob are fukkking **** faces. take the southern queens with you azzzwipe. never shy of playing the political card you stupid pr!k. i hope yuo fukkking die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
18 Oct 2012, 12:24 pm
Sumbody gonna get hurt rrreal bad!
18 Oct 2012, 12:26 pm
@Blitzbok-207: wow blitzy didn’t know you felt that way about Keo.
18 Oct 2012, 12:26 pm
@gunther-216: would you say this fellow is upset??
18 Oct 2012, 12:27 pm
@katman-205: oh yes i forget…”flowery” is the word you like…
18 Oct 2012, 12:29 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-220:
You see you were reading it wrong.
See how he deliberately ends on a stressed syllable?
This is no ordinary blogger.
18 Oct 2012, 12:30 pm
@gunther-219: Definitely a graduate of the Fuckadilly Institute of Lucid Communications (Dip.*****).
18 Oct 2012, 12:31 pm
This is an experiment………………………………..pay no head/.
18 Oct 2012, 12:32 pm
Hey it works.
18 Oct 2012, 12:32 pm
@stormer in a teacup-226: s h y t e. I can’t believe that is on the watch list.
18 Oct 2012, 12:33 pm
@gunther-225: A blogging oracle? A Jedi master? Or an undiagnosed schizophrenic?
But yes, definitely not ordinary
18 Oct 2012, 12:35 pm
@Transformation-224: I would have preferred loquacious, but I’m afraid to use the word here for fear of Capo nicking it as a name for one of his daughters.
18 Oct 2012, 12:36 pm
18 October 2012 (12:26) – Jean Deysel will win his 50 Absa Currie Cup cap for The Sharks in Saturday’s semi-final when they host the Blue Bulls at Mr Price KINGS PARK for the 4.30pm kick-off.
He is one of a host of Springboks who will feature – for both teams.
In changes to last week’s side, JP Pietersen shifts to the right wing in place of Odwa Ndungane who picked up an ankle injury against Griquas last weekend and hasn’t come through a late fitness test. Jacques Botes, another player under an injury cloud (back), also failed to make it through and will miss out this week. The third player facing a late decision was Steven Sykes who has been bracketed in with Peet Marais on the bench.
After playing off the bench last weekend, the Springbok duo of Lwazi Mvovo and Jannie du Plessis start this week, while Beast Mtawarira and Willem Alberts, who were rested last week following their heavy workload in the Castle Rugby Championship, have been recalled and will feature off the bench.
“We’re starting Jannie, it’s a big game and he had some Currie Cup action last week,” explains coach John Plumtree of the changes he’s made. “He’ll be partnered by Dale Chadwick and Kyle Cooper, and then we have a whole front row on the bench with Craig Burden, Beast and Wiehahn Herbst. It could be wet and having Willem Alberts and someone with experience like Steven Sykes on the bench will be important because how we finish the game off could be vital.
“There were a lot of choices, but I don’t think we could ignore what the guys have achieved without the guys who are now back. And we also couldn’t ignore the importance of experience.
“Everyone is just really excited.”
The Sharks
15. Louis Ludik
14. JP Pietersen
13. Paul Jordaan
12. Tim Whitehead
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Pat Lambie
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Keegan Daniel (Capt)
7. Jean Deysel
6. Marcell Coetzee
5. Anton Bresler
4. Jandre Marais
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Kyle Cooper
1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements
16. Craig Burden
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Wiehahn Herbst
19. Steven Sykes / Peet Marais
20. Willem Alberts
21. Charl McLeod
22. Meyer Bosman
18 Oct 2012, 12:38 pm
@stormer in a teacup-226:
Fuckadilly Institute of Lucid Thought Habits.
18 Oct 2012, 12:38 pm
Sorry for the long post, but a few Nienaber fans might enjoy this
Not too long ago Jacques Nienaber signed with DHL WP Rugby for another three years, keeping him in Cape Town until 2016. Nienaber told us why staying on was an easy decision to make.
He felt it was a beneficial for him to stay, both for himself and for his career.
“WE’VE GOT UNBELIEVABLE PLAYERS WHO WE’RE WORKING WITH, WHO ARE WORLD-CLASS. I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT AS A COACH YOU’RE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PLAYERS; I KNOW THE PLAYERS THAT I’M WORKING WITH AND I KNOW THAT THEY WORK HARD AND WILL SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR THE UNION AND FOR THE BRAND. THAT ATTITUDE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN’T COACH.”
The DHL Western Province and DHL Stormers coaching team have formed a bond, a further reason for Nienaber to stay and he believes in the other coaches and their abilities.“We get along and there is no friction in our coaching styles, Allister makes it very clear as to what direction he wants the team to go and that makes it easier for the peripheral coaches to plan their systems in accordance.” A final reason that contributed to him staying was his family, who love and enjoy Cape Town. “We enjoy Cape Town and we enjoy the people; we’ve made great friends here in five years and we do not want to leave.”
Nienaber ensures that every level of DHL WP Rugby is taught his defensive structures, ensuring that the players coming through the ranks into the senior team are accustomed to his defensive style. “I go to the under-19s every Thursday for a defence session in Stellenbosch at the Western Province Rugby Institute (WPRI). Nienaber works closely with the coaches at the WPRI – from the under-19s to the under-21s – where he sets the structures, improving and integrating attack, defence, kicking and breakdown.
Nienaber admits that the absence of senior players during the Currie Cup has a massive effect on the team, “For example, two guys like Burger and De Villiers – who have been in the system for five years – understand exactly what I want and they understand what the system must look like.” Nienaber goes on to give a creative analogy to better describe the system: “When you are a heart surgeon and you talk to other heart surgeons, you talk with authority because you know what you’re talking about. But, if you are a heart surgeon and you find yourself in a finance meeting, you’ll keep your mouth shut because you don’t understand finance.
“The same thing happens on defence – a senior player who has knowledge of the system will talk with authority on the field. A junior player might know the detail, but he won’t talk with the same confidence. That’s the difference between a senior and a junior player.”
As a coach, it is important to keep training and tactics from becoming mundane, but Nienaber claimed that this can be challenging. “I think that is what makes Alex Ferguson phenomenal. He has stayed with the same club for 25 or so years and continues to innovate the team. A player like Eben Etzebeth gets to places that a ‘normal’ lock can’t because he is a freakish physical specimen. Andries Bekker, who is older and wiser now than he was three or four years ago has a different approach to the game than Etzebeth. They have different approaches to the game, yet they are still extremely effective. As a coach you have to realise that you have different players at your disposal; some are young, some are experienced, some do things this way and some do things that way – the innovation comes in constantly ensuring that these players use their differences positively, within the coaching systems.”
Nienaber has achieved a lot in a short amount of time, but he modestly asserts that he deserves no credit, “It must never be defence that is good, I haven’t achieved anything; it’s not me achieving, it’s the team who are achieving. I came here because I felt like I could make a difference; we’ve changed the culture of the team but when we start winning then we’ll change Western Cape, DHL Western Province and DHL Stormers Rugby.” WPRM
18 Oct 2012, 12:39 pm
@GarethDuncan-4: Thanks Gareth, maybe some people (myself included) should go back and check SARU’s “fine print” in that statement.
What Roux was saying was that should a “feeling” arise next year that the Kings should have an extended stay in Super Rugby it would be voted for by the Unions (again!) at the next AGM and, if accepted, could be ratified by SARU’s Exco committee.
“Roux added, though, that this was highly unlikely.”
Typical slimy, sneaky way of working things if you ask me (where is the “leadership”, SARU?) and rest assured I will take any further utterances from any person at SARU with a huge pinch of salt.
18 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm
@sharks_lover-232: That is exactly the team I would have chosen! Welldone Plum! Now lets get this trophy!!!!!! Go Sharks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm
@cane-227: pay no heed or give no head?
18 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm
@sharks_lover-232: Good team and pleased Deysel is starting. Though think it is a mistake not starting with Beast. Would have had Chadwick on the bench.
18 Oct 2012, 12:41 pm
@Sharksgirl-236: Should have started with Beast and not Chadwick. Crazy actually, really not sure about that.
18 Oct 2012, 12:42 pm
@trupisero-237:
It doesnt matter.
he hasn’t been given either in decades.
18 Oct 2012, 12:42 pm
@katman-231: May be bit too close to the other one “Ovoviviparous” don’t you think?
18 Oct 2012, 12:44 pm
Th!nk I saw Skop !n F!shhoek ma!nroad th!s morn?ng. He was load!ng a wh!te bakk!e w!th a tra!ler beh!nd. Was about to stop and asked h!m !f h!s name was Joel but as that thought went through my m!nd I drove through a red traff?ce l?ght.
True story.
18 Oct 2012, 12:44 pm
@sharks_lover-232: So a 5/2 split as normal against the Bulls. Would have started with Beast, othewise good selections. Sorry that Odwa is out injured though.
Also pity Burden was with the Boks as he was only part of the 30 man squad. Would have been in fine form now had he played CC instead with Sharks.
18 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm
And this is for that 80′s relic blessed (or cursed) with the extra testicle.
A quote from Berton Klaasen: ““The great thing about Western Province is it does not matter if you are white, coloured or black, we all get along and have great relationships with each other,” said Klaasen.”
I’m not sure this will go down well at all.
18 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm
@Jeraldjay-242: Definitely Skoppie. He has so much baggage that he sometimes hooks two trailers behind his bakkie.
18 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm
@gunther-233: Fuckadilly Early Learning Centre for Highly Emotional Responses.
18 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm
@gunther-240: bwahaahaahaaa!!!
18 Oct 2012, 12:45 pm
Traff!c l!ght. Fl!pp!n Blackberry.
18 Oct 2012, 12:48 pm
@Jeraldjay-242: Fish Hoek has more than one road?
18 Oct 2012, 12:48 pm
@sharks_lover-232:
Good side.
Nice 5/2 split on the bench as well, considering the weather predicted for Durbs.
Reckon its going to be trench warfare out there. Battle of attrition at its finest.
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