THE Southern Kings have been given valuable “inside information” on how they can topple the Chiefs and blunt their try-hungry backline in a Super Rugby showdown at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow night.
Kiwi recruit Hadleigh Parkes, who played with some of the Chiefs players at school level in New Zealand, has shared his thoughts on how the Kings can upset the champions.
The Chiefs have scored 14 tries in their opening three Super Rugby matches and Parkes, who played for the Blues, is looking forward to the showdown.
“It is exciting to be coming up against my countrymen because I played against a lot of them at schoolboy level. I know what they are capable of ,” said Parkes.
“We have to be clinical against them because the Chiefs have shown themselves to be a pretty good attacking side over the past couple of years.
“The Chiefs can score tries and they have got a lot of steppers in their backline who can make space for themselves.
“We tackled a lot against the Sharks in our last game and that takes it out of you. If both teams like to play attacking footie the game opens up a lot more as well and that is what spectators love.
“In this game we have to be connected defensively and not be stand- offish. But we must not rush up on them because that is what they like.
“They like one-on-one confrontations. If you get out of line you get a staggered line and that is when they get their steps going and they try to beat defenders because they back themselves to do that.
“The Kings must be organised, connected and stay in our systems and if we do that we can come away with a win.
“We made some silly mistakes in the first 10 minutes against the Sharks and they put us under pressure.
“If we get rid of those mistakes we will be able to hold onto the ball a lot more .”
Parkes, a centre, has been named among the replacements for tomorrow’s clash.
“We have a good midfield with Andries Strauss and Ronnie Cooke, but hopefully I will get my chance later on. It is a fact of life and I just have to wait my turn and train well and when I get my chance have a good crack.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs hooker Mahonri Schwalger and prop Ben Tameifuna will be returning to New Zealand and will be replaced by hooker Rhys Marshall and prop Michael Kainga.
Schwalger has cartilage in his knee which has not healed as quickly as expected and Tameifuna is returning home on family bereavement.
Marshall has had an impressive start to his Super Rugby career playing against the Highlanders and the Cheetahs.
Kainga, from the wider training group, has yet to make his debut but has been strong in the pre-season trials. Aiming to create a sense of continuity, the Southern Kings have named an unchanged line-up.
KINGS SIDE IS: SP Marais; Marcello Sampson, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Sergeal Petersen; Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter; Schalk Ferreira, Bandise Maku, Kevin Buys, Cornell du Preez, Darron Nell (capt), Steven Sykes, Wimpie van der Walt, Jacques Engelbrecht. Reserves: Edgar Marutlulle, Jaco Engels, David Bulbring, Daniel Adongo, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes.
Parkes gives Kings inside take on Chiefs
Kiwi recruit Hadleigh Parkes, who played with some of the Chiefs players at school level in New Zealand, has shared his thoughts on how the Kings can upset the champions.
The Chiefs have scored 14 tries in their opening three Super Rugby matches and Parkes, who played for the Blues, is looking forward to the showdown.
“It is exciting to be coming up against my countrymen because I played against a lot of them at schoolboy level. I know what they are capable of ,” said Parkes.
“We have to be clinical against them because the Chiefs have shown themselves to be a pretty good attacking side over the past couple of years.
“The Chiefs can score tries and they have got a lot of steppers in their backline who can make space for themselves.
“We tackled a lot against the Sharks in our last game and that takes it out of you. If both teams like to play attacking footie the game opens up a lot more as well and that is what spectators love.
“In this game we have to be connected defensively and not be stand- offish. But we must not rush up on them because that is what they like.
“They like one-on-one confrontations. If you get out of line you get a staggered line and that is when they get their steps going and they try to beat defenders because they back themselves to do that.
“The Kings must be organised, connected and stay in our systems and if we do that we can come away with a win.
“We made some silly mistakes in the first 10 minutes against the Sharks and they put us under pressure.
“If we get rid of those mistakes we will be able to hold onto the ball a lot more .”
Parkes, a centre, has been named among the replacements for tomorrow’s clash.
“We have a good midfield with Andries Strauss and Ronnie Cooke, but hopefully I will get my chance later on. It is a fact of life and I just have to wait my turn and train well and when I get my chance have a good crack.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs hooker Mahonri Schwalger and prop Ben Tameifuna will be returning to New Zealand and will be replaced by hooker Rhys Marshall and prop Michael Kainga.
Schwalger has cartilage in his knee which has not healed as quickly as expected and Tameifuna is returning home on family bereavement.
Marshall has had an impressive start to his Super Rugby career playing against the Highlanders and the Cheetahs.
Kainga, from the wider training group, has yet to make his debut but has been strong in the pre-season trials. Aiming to create a sense of continuity, the Southern Kings have named an unchanged line-up.
KINGS SIDE IS: SP Marais; Marcello Sampson, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Sergeal Petersen; Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter; Schalk Ferreira, Bandise Maku, Kevin Buys, Cornell du Preez, Darron Nell (capt), Steven Sykes, Wimpie van der Walt, Jacques Engelbrecht. Reserves: Edgar Marutlulle, Jaco Engels, David Bulbring, Daniel Adongo, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes.
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