By GEORGE BYRON
A flu bug has rocked the Southern Kings camp ahead of their final Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
After going down to the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday, Kings head coach Deon Davids said a few of his players were showing early symptoms of flu and were being treated and rested ahead of the clash.
“We are being pre-emptive, and are resting the players concerned, to give them a chance to recover fully before the game,” said Davids.
He said that although a number of players had sustained bumps and bruises during the game against the Lions, most were available for selection against the Stormers clash.
Davids said prop Tom Botha was possibly not available for selection as he was battling a bit with his back and knee following the game against the Lions.
The coach said of members in the EP Kings Currie Cup team who had sustained injuries, limiting selection options ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Lock Tazz Fuzani has a foot injury, while Cornell Hess and JP Jonck both sustained concussions in their team’s match against the Leopards. All three are part of the expanded Southern Kings squad.
He said Jurgen Visser was still being evaluated under the medical protocols for concussion. The Kings are expected to name their team on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Stormers will go into the clash without centre Daniel du Plessis but are assured of their place in the playoffs‚ allowing coach Robbi Fleck to make changes for a match that has no bearing on their final position.
Du Plessis was concussed during last Saturday’s 22-3 win over the Western Force in Perth and won’t be considered for the team’s final assignment against the Kings.
The Stormers locked up top place in the Africa 1 Conference and will have a home quarterfinal in a fortnight regardless of the outcome of the match against the Kings.
On the positive side of the injury ledger‚ tighthead prop Frans Malherbe and looseheads JC Janse van Rensburg and Oli Kebble will return to training this week. The trio will be assessed during the week.
Loose-forward Nizaam Carr will also be reassessed following a shoulder injury sustained against the Melbourne Rebels the previous weekend.
With Daniel du Plessis out of the clash and Juan de Jongh still in camp with the Springbok Sevens as they prepare for the Olympics‚ Johnny Kotze is likely to be recalled to the squad after missing the Australian tour. Veteran Tim Whitehead remains another option.
Fleck is also likely to rest lock Pieter-Steph du Toit after a heavy workload this season. Du Toit has been the star performer for the Stormers and with a home playoff assured and second on the overall South African Conference guaranteed‚ there is no point in risking him this weekend.
Hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni are also likely to rotate for this clash while Louis Schreuder should start at scrumhalf and Jano Vermaak might also be recalled after injury.
Fleck will also consider bringing the fit-again flyhalf Rob du Preez into the squad. — Additional reporting Craig Ray
Kings play it safe to stave off the bug
A flu bug has rocked the Southern Kings camp ahead of their final Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
After going down to the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday, Kings head coach Deon Davids said a few of his players were showing early symptoms of flu and were being treated and rested ahead of the clash.
“We are being pre-emptive, and are resting the players concerned, to give them a chance to recover fully before the game,” said Davids.
He said that although a number of players had sustained bumps and bruises during the game against the Lions, most were available for selection against the Stormers clash.
Davids said prop Tom Botha was possibly not available for selection as he was battling a bit with his back and knee following the game against the Lions.
The coach said of members in the EP Kings Currie Cup team who had sustained injuries, limiting selection options ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Lock Tazz Fuzani has a foot injury, while Cornell Hess and JP Jonck both sustained concussions in their team’s match against the Leopards. All three are part of the expanded Southern Kings squad.
He said Jurgen Visser was still being evaluated under the medical protocols for concussion. The Kings are expected to name their team on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Stormers will go into the clash without centre Daniel du Plessis but are assured of their place in the playoffs‚ allowing coach Robbi Fleck to make changes for a match that has no bearing on their final position.
Du Plessis was concussed during last Saturday’s 22-3 win over the Western Force in Perth and won’t be considered for the team’s final assignment against the Kings.
The Stormers locked up top place in the Africa 1 Conference and will have a home quarterfinal in a fortnight regardless of the outcome of the match against the Kings.
On the positive side of the injury ledger‚ tighthead prop Frans Malherbe and looseheads JC Janse van Rensburg and Oli Kebble will return to training this week. The trio will be assessed during the week.
Loose-forward Nizaam Carr will also be reassessed following a shoulder injury sustained against the Melbourne Rebels the previous weekend.
With Daniel du Plessis out of the clash and Juan de Jongh still in camp with the Springbok Sevens as they prepare for the Olympics‚ Johnny Kotze is likely to be recalled to the squad after missing the Australian tour. Veteran Tim Whitehead remains another option.
Fleck is also likely to rest lock Pieter-Steph du Toit after a heavy workload this season. Du Toit has been the star performer for the Stormers and with a home playoff assured and second on the overall South African Conference guaranteed‚ there is no point in risking him this weekend.
Hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni are also likely to rotate for this clash while Louis Schreuder should start at scrumhalf and Jano Vermaak might also be recalled after injury.
Fleck will also consider bringing the fit-again flyhalf Rob du Preez into the squad. — Additional reporting Craig Ray
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