All hail the Kings
23 Feb 2013
The Kings scored an historic Super Rugby victory in their tournament debut in Port Elizabeth.
The Kings won 22-10 in front of a crowd exceeding 30 000 against Australia’s Western Force.
What a magnificent achievement. What a wonderful night for rugby in the Southern and Eastern Cape. What a night to remember.
South Africans be proud of a team that played for themselves, their region and their country.
Hopefully now the hatred with subside.
Luke Watson, a former Grey High captain, led out the Kings and proved inspirational in the opening 30 minutes before an accidental elbow to his larynx ended his evening. His replacement Jacques Englebrecht was as imposing as every Kings player stood tall in defence to turn a 10-5 deficit into a 11-10 lead and ultimately victory.
The Kings players with Super Rugby experience like hooker Bandise Maku, lock Steven Sykes and midfielders Andries Strauss and Ronnie Cooke were outstanding but it was a local teenager, winger Sergeal Petersen, who stole the hearts with a brace of tries to be named man of the match.
Petersen was in school at Grey High just three months ago and what made the night even more monumental was the first try should go to local lad from the region’s greatest rugby institution and that the player of the night should be a product of Grey High.
Kings Director of Rugby Alan Solomons deserves every accolade, as does coach Matt Sexton.
‘It was an incredible defensive effort,’ said Solomons. ‘We turned over a lot of ball and made a lot of mistakes but they will learn at this level. But their commitment can’t be faulted. It was a huge effort.’
Kings stand in captain Andries Strauss said the players were always confident they were good enough to win.
‘We will enjoy the night, but we are a grounded unit and we know it just gets tougher with each match.’
The Kings were given no price and no chance and done no favours.
The Kings lead the South African Conference after week one and that alone is a screen shot that makes this year among the most historic in South Africa’s Super Rugby history.
The Kings were everything but an embarrassment. They were an inspiration and they deserve every bit of applause for what was achieved in Port Elizabeth on Saturday night.
No new team in the competition has ever won in their first match. That bit of history belongs to the Kings.
By Mark Keohane
944 Comments
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24 Feb 2013, 09:57 am
@Transformation-680:
Congrats on your great win yesterday Transylvania. The guys game through on “Judgement Day”.
You are officially no longer a “Fencesitter”
The Kings seem to have that Stormers “look and feel” of the late 90′s, early 2000.
The “I TOLD YOU SO’s” are coming but enjoy the moment.
24 Feb 2013, 10:00 am
@Angostura-699:
Well, they have a wiley character in Alan Solomons. Solomons was the first who picked games overseas that he thought the Stormers could win and picked his best team.
24 Feb 2013, 10:00 am
Re – the Stormers’ Lions – I was just poking fun Friday & Saturday – imo they are all good players, but some of them had a very poor debut for the Stormers – like cream they’ll rise – to want to “chop” them now would not be prudent
Stormers (*** the Lions) will come right – a classy outfit that
24 Feb 2013, 10:01 am
I like the black kit of the Kings. It worked for the Stormers, not sure why they changed.
24 Feb 2013, 10:01 am
@RugbyStudent-702: YES, you’re correct
24 Feb 2013, 10:08 am
Sounds like Dawn has that pesky old South African xenophobia disease. It’s possibly genetically ingrained in some…even on a blog.
24 Feb 2013, 10:10 am
@Angostura-703: “c_um” meaning “with” is a banned word? what is happening to our culture?
24 Feb 2013, 10:10 am
@Transformation-672:
Transie
Congrats boet
Posted earlier last night that you were probably still busy dancing in the streets, so here goes again.
Big congrats to your team.
24 Feb 2013, 10:11 am
@Jeraldjay-701: thanks jerry, all we wanted was a chance to participate. the “i told you sos” you mention will indeed come but hey that’s the nature of the beast.
24 Feb 2013, 10:11 am
@Te Rangatira-670:
The problem with the black talent from this region is that they are being developed elsewhere, where they seem to never make past age-group and vodacom cup rugby. My biggest problem with the Kings is their inability to recruit these players. Let me give you a few examples:
Luvuyiso Lusaseni [blindside flanker/lock, SA schools 2006 and SA u20 in 2008] is the same age as Wimpie wd Walt; Lubabalo Mthembu [no.8, SA u20 in 2010]; Cornel Hess (not from the region), [lock, SA schools 2007, SA u20 in 2008 and 2009] kept Martin Muller in ’08 and David Bulbring in ’09 on the bench. The latter two are now starting locks at their franchises. Sibusiso Sithole [winger, SA u20 in 2010]; Wandile Mjekevu (not from the region), [center/wing, SA schools 2009, SA u20 in 2010 and 2011]
Others have been arrogant. One example being Andile Jho, who after being selected for SA schools in 2009 and 2010 (ahead of both Francois Venter and Jan Serfontein respectively) stated that he had no desire to play for the Kings. Today he’s part of the Kings’ vodacom cup side. He too would’ve been making his SR debut yesterday, had he stayed here…
24 Feb 2013, 10:12 am
What if the Kings end up higher on the log than the Cheetahs?
24 Feb 2013, 10:14 am
Anyhow Transie – enjoy the week and the celebrations but keep the feet on the ground !!
Have a nice day all !!
Go Proteas !!
24 Feb 2013, 10:15 am
@RugbyStudent-711:
Not impossible, and judging theStormers on Friday it might be us, the bottom placed SA team must play the relegation.
Still many weeks of rugby ahead though
24 Feb 2013, 10:16 am
@RugbyStudent-700:
Perhaps it has something to do with working hard..not sitting at home while Mavis is up at 5 AM to get to work as a cleaner in some factory or domicile abode hundreds of kays away from her home..
The other African countries have a lower GDP than South Africa but still they manage to eke out a living with the will to find a way to survive…and not by knocking over cash in transit vehicles or murdering old people on their farms for a mobile telephone and a laptop.
Apartheid is a convenient excuse for the lazy and inept (read Zuma).
24 Feb 2013, 10:19 am
@nortierd-708: thanks nortie…but i told you we can take the Force.
24 Feb 2013, 10:22 am
@nortierd-713:
Gonna be interesting
@Predawn-714:
Your arguments are so invalid, its unbelievable. Your knowledge of history is selective. I need a whole day to have a discussion on this but on this Sunday, I am just happy to see the Kings and not the Lions.
24 Feb 2013, 10:24 am
@mxhosa-710: ” Wandile Mjekevu (not from the region)” how can wandile not be from the region when he was born in King, went to Dale Prep, then Selborne & got poached by KES, where he ended up @ the Lions?
24 Feb 2013, 10:24 am
@Transformation-709:
Well done to your Kings. I thought the occasion might get too big for them and was concerned about their readiness for Super rugby. But as many before me have stated, we were proven wrong. There is still a long road ahead in this comp, believe me.
But for now, enjoy the moment.
24 Feb 2013, 10:28 am
@Transformation-715:
Yep, I also thought you will win a couple, especially against the Force, then your warm up loss against Griekwas threw my brain into reverse
That result made me change my mind and I picked the wrong team by 12.
But it was worth dropping a point seeing how gutsy your boys played.
24 Feb 2013, 10:29 am
I hope the Kings end up higher on the log than The Cheetahs, so that the Lions can kick them out and mediocre coaches like Naka Drotske can get fired.
24 Feb 2013, 10:29 am
@mxhosa-710:
I would think it would take time for the Kings to recoup the players they have lost to other franchises and develop new ones…and that is where the quandary lies for the Kings as it seems time is of the essence for them with a guarantee of only one year in SR… therefore they have made the prudent decision in my opinion and gone for a team that maybe or rather has shown it can be competitive to hopefully ensure no interruption to their longevity in the comp. If this occurs, the black players and new talent will be flocking to play for the Kings. Here’s hoping we will see the first Bok player selected from the Kings this year which will show players there is a pathway for players in the Franchise to higher honours.
24 Feb 2013, 10:29 am
@CharlesM-712: feet firmly on terra firma over here.
24 Feb 2013, 10:33 am
@Te Rangatira-721: lucid response.
24 Feb 2013, 10:36 am
@Te Rangatira-721:
I think Engelbrecht will be a Bok. At 8th man, there is currently no standout but if he continues, he’ll fit.
24 Feb 2013, 10:36 am
@kaksioek-602:
Well done to the Kings.
A win in their very 1st Super rugby match.
Two more victories and they will be just as successful as the Lions during their (lions;) most successful season.
24 Feb 2013, 10:36 am
The legacy of apartheid lives on because of corruption and cronyism in the current Gov.
24 Feb 2013, 10:38 am
@RugbyStudent-724:
Yeah…hes a good prospect…would have him at the Blues…
24 Feb 2013, 10:40 am
@Fern-726:
Yes, a generation has to pass to get where we want to be.
24 Feb 2013, 10:45 am
Watching the 45 minutes highlights of Chiefs v Highlanders
WHAT DO U MEAN
Who plays rugby like this !!!
24 Feb 2013, 10:46 am
24 Feb 2013, 10:47 am
@nama1-725:
Sorry keoiskak. I don’t know what happened here.
I see that only 15 people voted for the King to win their game. Fortunately I was one of them. It saved my bru. Moved up 39 positions.
Gunther now way behind me. I’m sure he pains about that fact.
24 Feb 2013, 10:52 am
The Gospel according Luke: 22.10
Behold, The Kings are here.
24 Feb 2013, 10:54 am
Am quite looking forward to go watch my first game at the PE stadium. Beats going to Ellis Park anyday.
24 Feb 2013, 10:57 am
@cane-732:
24 Feb 2013, 10:58 am
@RugbyStudent-711:
Then the Cheetahs play against the Lions in the promo/relegation match.
@Transformation-722:
Congrats Transie…and other Kings supporters.
I can see your boys winning 3 more. Solomons is a wily little bugger.
24 Feb 2013, 11:03 am
39/2 @ Centurion
that dude Smiff Biff is a real Venus Fly Catcher
24 Feb 2013, 11:03 am
@nama1-735:
3 more victories for the Kings? The Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs scalps would ne nice.
And Dale strikes again.
24 Feb 2013, 11:04 am
Huh? What xenophobia do I have now.
Is there a pill for it?
24 Feb 2013, 11:05 am
@Fern-726:
Well said.
24 Feb 2013, 11:06 am
@Angostura-736:
Dale now matches Allan Donald in the wicket stakes. Both on 330 – but Dale has done it in 7 fewer matches.
24 Feb 2013, 11:08 am
@nama1-739:
These Pistorius’s are going to cost us taxpayers a lot more cash. Have you seen the story on news24.com?
24 Feb 2013, 11:09 am
Jinne predawn you can darem lol with me.
24 Feb 2013, 11:09 am
@I am a stormer-740:
Great performance, AD readily admits that Dale is the greater bowler
24 Feb 2013, 11:15 am
@Angostura-743:
His wicket strike rate is the thing that makes him head and shoulders above everyone else right now.
24 Feb 2013, 11:24 am
congrats to the kings and their supporters, that taste of egg on a few faces must be sweet
SA rugby is still K@k though
24 Feb 2013, 11:29 am
@I am a stormer-737:
Now, that would be great.
@I am a stormer-741:
Just seen it now. Was busy reading it when I see your post. Don’t think there would’ve been much in it if it wasn’t for Oscar’s case. Just formalities in a case like this, I believe.
Carl Pistorius up for culpable homicide
2013-02-24 10:09
Pretoria – The brother of Paralympian star Oscar Pistorius is facing a charge of culpable homicide and was set to begin his trial last week.
This was revealed by e-News Channel Africa (eNCA) on Eyewitness News on Sunday morning.
Carl Pistorius was allegedly involved in a collision with a female biker in 2010.
His trail would have started on Thursday, a day before his brother was granted bail in the high-profile case against him following the shooting death of the athlete’s model girlfriend on 14 February 2013.
A legal representative confirmed that Carl’s case was postponed to March and said he was confident Carl Pistorius would be acquitted. (news24)
24 Feb 2013, 11:32 am
@the curse-745:
You won’t be saying that if the Kings scalp the Blues, would you now?
24 Feb 2013, 11:33 am
Marchand de Lange…Kyle Abbott… Rory kleinveldt…
Fast bowling stock looking good for the next few years.
24 Feb 2013, 11:37 am
@skopdiekan-525: and Ryecatcher.Born in Umtata
24 Feb 2013, 11:37 am
@Angostura-743:
Amla said he is their “master blaster” in an interview before the test started.
Remember that he took his 300th test wicket in his 61st test. Four tests later he is on 330 as we speak.
Great bowler.
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