All hail the Kings

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

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 19 » Show All

  • 201.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:29 pm

    Kings going to win this.
    Nice try

  • 202.ET.: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:29 pm

    Brilliant TRY. Just brilliant!!!

  • 203.MGvR: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:30 pm

    Oh, and hi all. Official newbie on the forums here, haha… It is nice to see the Kings doing well, but sucks that’s its with the Watsons. Would be a nice feeling if only the Watson weren’t involved in it.

  • 204.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:31 pm

    Sergeal!!!

  • 205.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:31 pm

    Wynand Claasen’s son making his run on for France

  • 206.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:31 pm

    @Predawn-193: :lol:

  • 207.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:31 pm

    The Force must be REALLY KAAAK!!!

  • 208.ET.: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:31 pm

    And these Keo haters are just QUIET., so very quiet.

    What will they say if the KINGS win this one?

  • 209.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:32 pm

    @nortierd-155:

    Ek sien so, net jammer oor die wedstryd

  • 210.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:32 pm

    Petersen just fckd this pseudo fckface guppy yuppie 2 face loser leeuser piece of shy te creep in his pseudo fckup guppy yuppie punky face.

    Perfect up yours to the 2 face punky creeps.

  • 211.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:33 pm

    We’ll say that we demand a recount.

  • 212.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:33 pm

    @Predawn-207:
    NO…..just Kaaak

  • 213.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:34 pm

    Vatso naaiers

  • 214.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:34 pm

    @victoriabok-209:
    Meeste sal die een verkeerde he.
    Kings oortref hulle self, Force nie te goed nie.
    Kings sal verdien om die een te wen

  • 215.MGvR: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:35 pm

    One does have to wonder. The Force have gotta be really really bad this year. The Kings weren’t able to win their relegation game to make the Currie Cup and yet, they are pulling their weight against the Force. It would’ve been really nice to have a relegation game against the Lions though, to at least to have had the opportunity to have proved their inclusion. If they continue like this, they really shouldn’t be scared of a relegation game against the Lions. Much respect to the players, but none offered to the Watsons thankyou.

  • 216.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:36 pm

    Michelack is costing the French big time.
    What a plod

  • 217.ET.: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:36 pm

    @MGvR-194:

    Help jy nou apartheid broeder?

    Waar het ek daardie punt gemaak met my woorde.

    As jy kan lees en verstaan het ek sy punt oor die skare aangepak.

    Nou sal jy ook maar net mooi f o k kof?

  • 218.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:36 pm

    I wish they would go back to neutral refs

  • 219.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:36 pm

    Lowrens vd Cheater.

    :roll:

  • 220.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:37 pm

    Come France only a 4 point game do it for the revolution.

    Come Kings a win here is worth a thousand Fck Youse to the 2 face apartheid wishing stuck in their antique decrepit loathing last bastion precocious pricks

  • 221.Dilligafrican: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:37 pm

    Ref getting a Landy after this?

    Or maybe a handy.

  • 222.carol: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:37 pm

    “SWING LOW SWEET CHARRIOT” :-)

  • 223.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:37 pm

    Calm down folks. All this is proving is that the Griquas Vodacom Cup team would beat the Force.

    The Force are simply kakker than anyone believed possible. And Lourens van der Merwe more thick skinned than anyone believed possible.

  • 224.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:37 pm

    Naaiers..something Dawn hasn’t experienced since video machines were discontinued.

  • 225.Rage: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:38 pm

    @ 213 Dawn

    So bek moet jêm kry

  • 226.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:38 pm

    @skopdiekan-220:
    10 points, not 4 anymore.
    Freddie the English man of the match

  • 227.carol: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:39 pm

    This time next week I will be flying out to Cape Town….

    Life is sweet!

  • 228.Dilligafrican: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:39 pm

    Poodlefuvker and Gobshyte in full fling. People against the Kings must obviously be racist against this all black team

  • 229.MGvR: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:39 pm

    Jeez… aren’t we friendly in this place. Nice to meet you too.

  • 230.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:40 pm

    And that’s all I’m saying

  • 231.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:40 pm

    The No19 is the type of replacement a lot of teams would like to have

  • 232.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:40 pm

    @carol-227:
    Nice
    You must enjoy.
    :-)

  • 233.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:40 pm

    Force players will all leave South Africa in their own private jets…sponsored by Sheeke’.

  • 234.polaris: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:40 pm

    My sincere apologies, Kings.

    No more dissing from me.

    VERY WELL DONE OKES!

  • 235.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:41 pm

    @Dawn-230:
    Lol
    Enough said
    :-D

  • 236.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:41 pm

    Woah the Force are kak

  • 237.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:41 pm

    If the scoreline stays like this the Kings will go top of the SA conference after 1 round.

    :D

  • 238.RL: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:41 pm

    @Tacitus-223: it is a sad indictment on convict rugby.

  • 239.ET.: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:41 pm

    @Dawn-213:

    Nou stem ek saam met jou en dit sal nou donderweer by jou wees

  • 240.Jeraldjay: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:42 pm

    @Dawn-213:

    :lol:

  • 241.MGvR: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:42 pm

    This doesn’t exactly look like the same team who lost to the Cheetahs in the relegation games… Not even remotely…

  • 242.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:42 pm

    good on Matt Sexton….nice bloke

  • 243.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:42 pm

    Sounds like the Aussies are even worse than last year – this is going to be fun :lol:

  • 244.Tin Tin: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:43 pm

    South African rugby fans are so friendly. Not even a “hallo, welcome”. Wow!

  • 245.Dilligafrican: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:43 pm

    Good lord these shackledraggers are uber kak

  • 246.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:43 pm

    Idiot French
    10 behind and still try to score in injury time.
    I have them by 9, so 10 will do.

  • 247.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:44 pm

    @stormersboy-237:
    As I predicted…hehe

  • 248.ET.: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:45 pm

    Who needs a valueless Currie Cup trophy when you can get a historic first ever win in the S15 at your very first asking?

    When last has one seen such passion, motivation and commiotment from a S.African side?

  • 249.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:45 pm

    @nortierd-214:

    Hulle het die Lions uitgehaal omdat hulle swak was, wat van die Force?

    Ek’s seker die Kiwis kan eerder nog ‘n span insit wat beter as die Force sal wees

  • 250.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    23 Feb 2013, 20:45 pm

    @Te Rangatira-247: You predicted they would go top of the SA conference?

    Hold on, give me six random numbers between 0 and 50. I’m off to buy a lotto ticket…. :)

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