REJUVENATED after staging a remarkable comeback against the Brumbies, the Southern Kings will carry new-found momentum into their Super 15 showdown with the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday.
Thanks to their gutsy 28-28 draw against the table-topping men from Canberra, the Kings will fancy their chances of emerging with vital points against the struggling Rebels.
On the combined log the Rebels are in 12th spot after managing to win only two of their opening seven games which has put them only three points ahead of the Kings who have played only six games.
But despite the jubilation in the Kings camp after their draw , the rookies are taking nothing for granted against the Melbourne-based side.
“We travelled to Melbourne on Saturday and we will recover a bit and review the Brumbies game,” director of rugby Alan Solomons said. “Then we can really get stuck in and have a full week to prepare for the Rebels – we are certainly not taking them for granted.
“They are a side desperate to get their competition back on track and we know it is going to be a tough game,” he said.
“The identity of this Kings team is character, courage and commitment and that has been built on the back of a potent conditioning and potent defence .”
Solomons said all credit had to go to the players, who had put on an incredible performance, despite a few mistakes.
“We made mistakes, our discipline was poor and we gave away too many key penalties, one of which resulted in a try. Our kick execution from exiting our own half was poor between our tryline and 10m line, and catching the halfway kickoffs was poor, which put us under a lot of stress,” he said.
Despite the three points they earned against the Brumbies, the Kings are firmly rooted to the foot of the South African conference and will need to start winning games if they plan to avoid a promotion-relegation match against the Lions at the end of the season.
Kings chairman Cheeky Watson said he was delighted with the resilience and character shown by the team against the Brumbies.
Asked if he thought the game was a turning point in the season, Watson said: “No, I think the turning point in the season came in the very first match when we beat the Force in Port Elizabeth.
“Now, when the team return from Australia, their first home game is against the Bulls on April 20 and I have no doubt the Nelson Mandela Stadium will be filled to its 44000 capacity,” Watson said.
The weekend fixtures are: Friday: Highlanders v Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 9.35am
Saturday: Chiefs v Reds at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 6.35am, Blues v Hurricanes at Eden Park, Auckland 9.35am, Rebels v Southern Kings at AAMI Park, Melbourne 11:40am, Force v Crusaders at NIB Stadium, Perth 1.45pm, Stormers v Sharks at Newlands, Cape Town 5.05pm, Bulls v Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 7.10pm.
Kings vow against complacency
Thanks to their gutsy 28-28 draw against the table-topping men from Canberra, the Kings will fancy their chances of emerging with vital points against the struggling Rebels.
On the combined log the Rebels are in 12th spot after managing to win only two of their opening seven games which has put them only three points ahead of the Kings who have played only six games.
But despite the jubilation in the Kings camp after their draw , the rookies are taking nothing for granted against the Melbourne-based side.
“We travelled to Melbourne on Saturday and we will recover a bit and review the Brumbies game,” director of rugby Alan Solomons said. “Then we can really get stuck in and have a full week to prepare for the Rebels – we are certainly not taking them for granted.
“They are a side desperate to get their competition back on track and we know it is going to be a tough game,” he said.
“The identity of this Kings team is character, courage and commitment and that has been built on the back of a potent conditioning and potent defence .”
Solomons said all credit had to go to the players, who had put on an incredible performance, despite a few mistakes.
“We made mistakes, our discipline was poor and we gave away too many key penalties, one of which resulted in a try. Our kick execution from exiting our own half was poor between our tryline and 10m line, and catching the halfway kickoffs was poor, which put us under a lot of stress,” he said.
Despite the three points they earned against the Brumbies, the Kings are firmly rooted to the foot of the South African conference and will need to start winning games if they plan to avoid a promotion-relegation match against the Lions at the end of the season.
Kings chairman Cheeky Watson said he was delighted with the resilience and character shown by the team against the Brumbies.
Asked if he thought the game was a turning point in the season, Watson said: “No, I think the turning point in the season came in the very first match when we beat the Force in Port Elizabeth.
“Now, when the team return from Australia, their first home game is against the Bulls on April 20 and I have no doubt the Nelson Mandela Stadium will be filled to its 44000 capacity,” Watson said.
The weekend fixtures are: Friday: Highlanders v Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 9.35am
Saturday: Chiefs v Reds at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 6.35am, Blues v Hurricanes at Eden Park, Auckland 9.35am, Rebels v Southern Kings at AAMI Park, Melbourne 11:40am, Force v Crusaders at NIB Stadium, Perth 1.45pm, Stormers v Sharks at Newlands, Cape Town 5.05pm, Bulls v Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 7.10pm.
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