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Port Elizabeth - Eastern Province Kings coach Carlos Spencer has announced a fairly unchanged team to take on Griquas in a Currie Cup clash in Kimberly on Saturday (14:30 kick-off).
Spencer said the team would be under new captainship once again, as neither Darron Nell nor Steven Sykes would be in the starting XV, but said he would only announce the new captain on Thursday.
“Darron Nell is currently battling with a calf strain and will undergo fitness tests on Thursday, if he passes he will move to the bench, otherwise Steven Sykes will come onto the bench in his place,” he said.
“I still need to speak to a few of the guys about the role and will make the announcement on Thursday,” he said.
The changes to the starting line up include Cameron Lindsay moving up from the bench to cover for Nell at lock opposite Steven Cummins, while Tim Agaba moves up from the bench to eighth man.
Paul Schoeman moves from No 8 to flank, to cover for Stefan Willemse, who is out with a shoulder injury.
“I think Tim is an outright eight, I was impressed with the energy that he brought when he came on last week Saturday,” he said.
The only change on the bench, besides Nell or Sykes, is the inclusion of George Whitehead, who returns.
Spencer said the team lineouts continued to be frustrating, but said he did not want to go in depth on the matter.
“It was a big issue for us, we did put ourselves in positions where we got ourselves back into the game and if we had won even half of those lineouts I believe we could have gone on to win the match."
Spencer said the team was looking forward to the clash against the Griquas.
“This is an important game for us and we’re excited. We feel if we just stick to the plan, and look after ourselves, I’m sure we will do fine,” he said.
Spencer said the biggest challenge for the team was the first fifteen to twenty minutes of the game, where the opposition managed to get a head start.
“Our focus is on those first ten to fifteen minutes, it is important that we get ourselves into the game and just stick to the plan,” he said.
Teams:
Griquas:
TBA
EP Kings:
15. Siviwe Soyizwapi, 14. Ronnie Cooke, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Shane Gates, 11. Ntabeni Dukisa, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Tobie Botes, 8. Tim Agaba, 7. Devin Oosthuizen, 6. Paul Schoeman, 5. Steven Cummins, 4. Cameron Lindsay, 3. CJ van der Linde, 2. Martin Ferreira, 1. Charles Marais
Substitutes: 16. Albé de Swardt, 17. Charl du Plessis, 18. Darron Nell/Steven Sykes, 19. Thembelani Bholi, 20. Kevin Luiters, 21. George Whitehead, 22. Scott van Breda
Spencer said the team would be under new captainship once again, as neither Darron Nell nor Steven Sykes would be in the starting XV, but said he would only announce the new captain on Thursday.
“Darron Nell is currently battling with a calf strain and will undergo fitness tests on Thursday, if he passes he will move to the bench, otherwise Steven Sykes will come onto the bench in his place,” he said.
“I still need to speak to a few of the guys about the role and will make the announcement on Thursday,” he said.
The changes to the starting line up include Cameron Lindsay moving up from the bench to cover for Nell at lock opposite Steven Cummins, while Tim Agaba moves up from the bench to eighth man.
Paul Schoeman moves from No 8 to flank, to cover for Stefan Willemse, who is out with a shoulder injury.
“I think Tim is an outright eight, I was impressed with the energy that he brought when he came on last week Saturday,” he said.
The only change on the bench, besides Nell or Sykes, is the inclusion of George Whitehead, who returns.
Spencer said the team lineouts continued to be frustrating, but said he did not want to go in depth on the matter.
“It was a big issue for us, we did put ourselves in positions where we got ourselves back into the game and if we had won even half of those lineouts I believe we could have gone on to win the match."
Spencer said the team was looking forward to the clash against the Griquas.
“This is an important game for us and we’re excited. We feel if we just stick to the plan, and look after ourselves, I’m sure we will do fine,” he said.
Spencer said the biggest challenge for the team was the first fifteen to twenty minutes of the game, where the opposition managed to get a head start.
“Our focus is on those first ten to fifteen minutes, it is important that we get ourselves into the game and just stick to the plan,” he said.
Teams:
Griquas:
TBA
EP Kings:
15. Siviwe Soyizwapi, 14. Ronnie Cooke, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Shane Gates, 11. Ntabeni Dukisa, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Tobie Botes, 8. Tim Agaba, 7. Devin Oosthuizen, 6. Paul Schoeman, 5. Steven Cummins, 4. Cameron Lindsay, 3. CJ van der Linde, 2. Martin Ferreira, 1. Charles Marais
Substitutes: 16. Albé de Swardt, 17. Charl du Plessis, 18. Darron Nell/Steven Sykes, 19. Thembelani Bholi, 20. Kevin Luiters, 21. George Whitehead, 22. Scott van Breda
