Long live the Kings
25 Feb 2013
MARK KEOHANE, in Business Day, writes the Kings turned a night of potential ruin into a night to remember.
They played in black but it was all Grey when it came to the Southern Kings historic and winning Super Rugby debut in Port Elizabeth.
Grey High School, academically and culturally strong, is also Port Elizabeth’s most renowned sporting and rugby institution.
Kings Director of Rugby Alan Solomons was schooled at Grey. Kings captain Luke Watson went to Grey and Saturday night’s two-try wing wonder Sergeal Petersen finished matric at Grey High just three months ago. The past, present and future of the region were all primary to a victory for the Southern and Eastern Cape, for South African rugby and for the country.
This was indeed a victory for the locals made possible by locals. It was a momentous occasion that demanded celebration and the necessary outpouring of emotion.
The Kings, as a squad, are limited in pedigree but not in passion.
The haters of the Kings called the team an embarrassment to South African rugby. This was before kick-off.
Those haters again displayed every quality of a bully and coward and stayed clear of social media forums on Saturday night. They would have taken the Kings 22-10 win against Australia’s Western Force personally. It is their way.
The haters will be back this week with boasts that the Kings won’t win again this season. This distorted thinking will give credence to their vindictiveness.
The haters don’t see the Lions winning 15 from 90 Super Rugby matches and losing 17 in succession as an embarrassment. The haters don’t recall the Bulls winning two out of 22 matches in Heyneke Meyer’s first two years as a Super Rugby coach. The haters don’t remember the Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks, Cats, Stormers and Bulls all taking 50-plus point beatings in the history of the tournament.
Never have so many South Africans done such a disservice to a South African Rugby franchise.
The argument that Super Rugby participation has to be earned is flawed. How did the Rebels and Force earn the right to play in the competition? They were included to grow the game in Australia.
The Sharks (as Natal) were given Currie Cup status in an expanded structure and went onto become the most successful South African province a decade later.
Griquas and the Pumas, as two examples, were given Currie Cup status by way of another expansion from six to eight teams.
The Kings were reluctantly and resentfully officially declared participants in the 2013 Super Rugby season in August 2012, and there was no guarantee beyond one season.
Few players of Super Rugby quality were willing to leave other provinces in South Africa or return from Europe to play for a region in which uncertainty was the only certainty.
It was assumed – among the anti Kings’ contingent – that the shame of defeat in every match would dull enthusiasm for Super Rugby in the region. It was never a consideration the Kings would lead the South African Conference after the first round of matches.
The Kings on a historic night in our rugby played without a jersey sponsor. They were made to feel like paupers.
They were treated like renegades and played like revolutionaries. They turned a night of potential ruin into a night to remember.
Brumbies loose-forward David Pocock tweeted his best wishes to the Southern Kings on Saturday afternoon and wished them all the best.
The Zimbabwean-born captain of the Wallabies, a man of integrity and substance, who has never forgotten his African roots and who once tweeted he never missed an issue of South African Rugby Magazine as a youngster, cared enough to known what the Kings would mean to the future of the game in Southern Africa.
Pocock, in 140 characters, showed more goodwill to the Kings than the National Governing Body has done in the last 140 months.
Cheeky Watson, an activist against apartheid in South Africa, continues to fight apartheid in South African Rugby. He refused and refuses to compromise on the Kings’ presence in a unified South African Rugby landscape.
It makes him unpopular to a cultural minority. So too Solomons, who four years ago committed to a 10 year plan to restore rugby’s respect within the region.
One of the greatest nights in our unified rugby history was also the saddest because it showed – not how far we have come in unity – but just how far we need to go.
All hail the Kings. Long live the Kings.
Respect
526 Comments
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25 Feb 2013, 16:02 pm
@Transformation-350:
That was a big mistake in my view. I think Heyneke wanted a replacement for Danie Rossouw fast and saw in Potgieter a hard, lock/ball carrying flanker.
I would send him back to the Kings, personally.
25 Feb 2013, 16:03 pm
I see the Bulls paid a price for their victory with JJ, Slangkos and Steggies all out for the next game at least.
Good thing it’s against the Force this weekend. It won’t cost them.
25 Feb 2013, 16:04 pm
@stormersboy-352:
All positions that we have good cover in. And luckily none of them are long term injuries.
25 Feb 2013, 16:08 pm
@Tacitus-347:
I agree on all your points that’s why I said since last year already that Taute should not just be handed the no. 15 jersey. I started to have my suspicions that AC had him as the no. 1 FB when he started both pre-season warm up matches.
Some people suggested that the Lions made it a provision in the loan agreement that Taute and Jantjies MUST play in order for them to get enough game time. AC denied that but it seems there might be some truth in it.
25 Feb 2013, 16:11 pm
@Tacitus-353: Yes. Steggies is a bit unique as a player but you won’t be found out against the Force. Botha in for Dewald and Venter in for JJ. Venter looked good on Friday. Better than JJ to my mind.
Who will replace Stegmann?
25 Feb 2013, 16:15 pm
Who’s “slangkos”?
25 Feb 2013, 16:15 pm
@stormersboy-355:
If we need a like for like replacement I’d go with young Adendorf. Short and stocky and good on the deck. That would be the balanced approach.
If Ludeke wants to go with an all out attack, ball carrying approach because it’s the weak Force, we might see someone like Jean Cook starting, with Jacques Potgieter making a return off the bench.
25 Feb 2013, 16:16 pm
@Tacitus-351: That’s ok. We don’t want him. Besides Meyer has made “promises” to him only in a Bulls jersey. CJ must have been livid.
25 Feb 2013, 16:17 pm
Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – The chances look reasonably good that Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s initial centre alliance last season, captain Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn, will go head to head in No 12 jerseys when the Sharks host the Stormers in Durban on Saturday.
The home team will be able to approach the latest Super Rugby derby in a slightly more relaxed frame of mind than their opponents, considering that they quelled a spirited Cheetahs’ fight-back to win in Bloemfontein in their opener, whilst the unusually dozy, mistake-riddled Stormers crashed without even a losing bonus point to the more focused Bulls at Loftus.
Apart from the likelihood that they will be direct opponents in this “Currie Cup final 2012 rematch” – it will very much depend on whether Juan de Jongh is fit for duty for the Stormers this week – De Villiers and Steyn are also currently serving as acting captains of their franchises, with Schalk Burger and Keegan Daniel respectively sidelined.
(news24)
25 Feb 2013, 16:18 pm
@Dawn-328:
Come now.
We need Tac’s gravitas here or it would just be Stormers and Kings supporters dry humping each other.
25 Feb 2013, 16:20 pm
@Dawn-356:
Dewald Potgieter
25 Feb 2013, 16:20 pm
Gangnam style dancing by JdJ on the Kings Park turf again after scoring his customary try in a big match.
Go boytjie!!!
25 Feb 2013, 16:24 pm
@nama1-362:
I am not even going to be sucked in by ShaunB or HG or the other Sharks fans this week.
I think my motto this week will be ” n stil bek is n heel bek”
I am going away this weekend so won’t even be going online to see what is going to be said, maybe it’s a good thing though
25 Feb 2013, 16:26 pm
@rossoneri-358: how much do you think we bagged for pottie if griekwas pocketed a bar for bjorn?
25 Feb 2013, 16:27 pm
@Dawn-356: Victor called him slangkos when he was handing out the winners medals a few years ago when they last won the Super Rugby comp.
Usually guys with white hair like that are given a nickname like “wit rot” or to take it one step further “slangkos” or snake food (white rat).
So he shall forever be slangkos now.
25 Feb 2013, 16:28 pm
I don’t know why so many people are hating on the Kings because politics in SA rugby has always been there and unfortunately rugby in SA is not all about what happens in those four white lines its much more deeper and complexed than that and I feel a certain section of people are not necessarily hating the Kings but rather the person behind the Kings and also his son for the gesture he proposed on the springbok jersey.
25 Feb 2013, 16:29 pm
@Tacitus-357: Ja if Potgieter is back then just play all 3 big guys and steamroll them. It’s only the force, after all. It will be like a practice match. The focus should be on getting a bonus point.
25 Feb 2013, 16:30 pm
@Sage300-366: Very true. Must say the guys were playing their nuts off on Satuday and showed real commitment and pride but you hit the nail on the head with your post.
25 Feb 2013, 16:32 pm
@Transformation-364:
About enough to take care of Teapot’s salary for two months.
25 Feb 2013, 16:32 pm
@Sage300-366: It’s partly the Watsons, but mostly (in most cases) the perception that SARU have artificially elevated a region who couldn’t even get their CC team up to scratch into the big leagues because of a political agenda.
25 Feb 2013, 16:34 pm
Keep calm… and support the Kings
25 Feb 2013, 16:36 pm
@Transformation-364: Meyer was looking at him with greedy eyes. Hahahahaha. Alan must have been so happy to see him go. I don’t think Sexton could have coached the stupid out of him.
25 Feb 2013, 16:37 pm
@gunther-369: Teapot?
25 Feb 2013, 16:38 pm
@SpringbokSarah-371: Skies Saartjie maar daai kite gaan nie vlieg nie.
25 Feb 2013, 16:38 pm
@Sage300-366: we have been down this route before ,buddy. I think it’s accepted now that they hate King Cheeky because of his links to the ANC and the fact that the Watson family refused to support their apartheid government’s policies. no need to type the same old rubbish on here .
25 Feb 2013, 16:39 pm
@SpringbokSarah-371: I wish this was facebook and I could “like” your comment.
25 Feb 2013, 16:40 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-374: Skies of sies?
25 Feb 2013, 16:41 pm
@rossoneri-376: lol well I’ll take your mental “like” into consideration?
25 Feb 2013, 16:44 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-374: just been through Saturday’s posts and I noted that you were quite agressive with kings supporters.shame. not good for you lions okes to watch super rugby with your guts filled to the brim with brannas and coke.
25 Feb 2013, 16:48 pm
@S_K-379: SK you should start reading more and you will find that I am in fact a Bulls supporter. Try and read past post 5 next time.
There are various reasons for people disliking the Kings. I have mine but like you say, we’ve been down this road alot so I’ll park it for now.
25 Feb 2013, 16:48 pm
@SpringbokSarah-371: be careful now! Kwagga might start to abuse you.
25 Feb 2013, 16:49 pm
Luke does nogal look like a teapot
25 Feb 2013, 16:51 pm
Why SK?
Does it stand for Soek K@k?
25 Feb 2013, 16:51 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-380: sorry ,kwagga.the way you behaved I could have sworn that you were a lion supporter.
25 Feb 2013, 16:51 pm
@S_K-381: he’s entitled to his opinion but I’m not ashamed to say I am a Kings supporter. Bring on the abuse
25 Feb 2013, 16:51 pm
@S_K-375: some people are quiet thick so over expressing a point works wonders..i don’t know why the big hoohaa about it as this is the first and last incident in SA rugby about politics in sport.
25 Feb 2013, 16:53 pm
@S_K-381: I usually only abuse my first beer when I am really thirsty but thats about it. Speaking of beer, almost time to go.
25 Feb 2013, 16:53 pm
@nortierd-383:
. You are too farking clever ,nortierd .hilton botha got nothing on you! 
25 Feb 2013, 16:53 pm
@S_K-384: Eina fokkit!!
25 Feb 2013, 16:57 pm
@S_K-388:
I eat lawyers for breakfast.
Feel sorry for the guy though, he was hung out to dry.
I know what it’s like to try do the job without equipment etc., not easy
25 Feb 2013, 16:59 pm
@SpringbokSarah-385:
Don’t worry about that, there are a few King supporters and it’s great.
Your team did you proud on Saturday and many of us were genuinely glad for you.
Enjoy the moment, it was well deserved.
25 Feb 2013, 17:09 pm
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200675699316487&set=a.1838917534288.113395.1281027853&type=1&theater
25 Feb 2013, 17:09 pm
A South African sportsman, Marc Batchelor, meanwhile described in detail the alleged threats made against him by Pistorius, alluded to in last week’s bail hearing.
Batchelor claimed he received two calls from the runner threatening to “—- him up” after a row.
“He phoned me up, saying ‘You piece of —-’, ‘You —-’, all that kind of stuff. He said he was going to —- me up.
“I just laughed at him. I told him, ‘Oscar, I can’t hit a man with no legs’.”
hmmmm.
25 Feb 2013, 17:10 pm
@NZINCHINA-259:
Definitely, the influence is there. Beautiful way of playing.
25 Feb 2013, 17:14 pm
@shooter-256:
Lol. Time will tell, hope meyer does not do a Jake White. He will not get away with it tis time around. I do not think Meyer will hang around. He had a poor start, I dont have much hope this year in all honesty.
25 Feb 2013, 17:17 pm
@nortierd-390: yeah,the minute they turned the bail hearing into a mini trial he was toast.no forensic reports basically turned him into a sitting duck.he ,though ,could have checked out the Italian property claim a bit more instead of quoting the sarie article and presented the court with evidence as to the public outrage.in my personal opinion the defence did a bit of grandstanding as to the question of him contaminating the crime scene.
25 Feb 2013, 17:18 pm
@nortierd-391: I’m glad for me too
Stormers let me down badly, it’s nice that at least one of them pulled through 
25 Feb 2013, 17:21 pm
the way those boys started defending (against the force’s weakish attack, admittedly) showed a lot more than the final score.
and the way they soaked up pressure and came back was a joy to watch.
imagine, a bunch of no-reputation, no-hope guys just playing their hearts out, and looking like they are enjoying themselves, rather than just earning a salary.
i’m a bulls fan, but they have just become my second favourite team. the other SA teams could do worse than to watch the spirit in which this game was played, and take some lessons.
25 Feb 2013, 17:23 pm
@S_K-396:
I’m sure he will wish he could do many things differently.
For starters, booking off sick on the 13 th of Feb would be the 1st thing that springs to mind
25 Feb 2013, 17:26 pm
@roobarb2-398: the Stormers can take a dozen or so of that lessons. no spirit at all!
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