Border Bulldog rugby stars Makazole Mapimpi and Masixole Banda are set to make their Super Rugby debut’s when the Southern Kings take on the Jaguares in their opening match of the 2017 Super Rugby at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow.
Wing sensation Mapimpi has been included in the starting lineup at right wing and will be running on for the biggest match of his career to date.
It was a breakout year for Mapimpi last year as he ran riot in the Currie Cup Qualifying and First Division competitions.
In 14 matches in the qualifying tournament, Mapimpi ran in a superb 13 tries, finishing second on the competition try-scoring list and then added another three tries in six games in the First Division.
He is quick and has the size to fend off defenders and given time should be able to flourish at this level.
Banda meanwhile has been named on the substitutes bench and the Currie Cup First Division player of the season for 2016 will hope to get as much game time as possible.
He led the Bulldogs attack superbly last year, whether playing at flyhalf or fullback and his quick decision-making and incisive breaks should make him a dangerous prospect for opposing teams.
The two will hope that they can make telling contributions in helping the Kings get their campaign off to the best possible start.
“For us, it is important to go out there full of confidence in ourselves and what we can bring,” said Kings head coach Deon Davids.
“We understand that we are playing against a quality side.
“We will have to focus a lot on ourselves, in terms of what we want to bring and how we will do it.
“We are looking forward to expressing ourselves and seeing our experienced players as well as the young ones getting out there and making use of the opportunity of playing Vodacom Super Rugby.”
Other Border players who are in the Kings starting mix include flyhalf Lionel Cronje and flank Andisa Ntsila, both Queen’s College old boys, and prop Ross Geldenhuys who began his rugby career with the Border Bulldogs back in 2005, and picked up a Super Rugby winners medal with the Highlanders in 2015.
Selborne College old boy Chris Cloete has been named among the substitutes and the explosive flanker will be very keen to get back on the field after his superb debut Super Rugby season was cruelly cut short by a knee injury in May last year.
Another former Border Bulldogs player in line to make his Super Rugby debut this weekend is prop Johannes Jonker who has been named on the bench for the Lions and will be looking forward to getting on the park when they take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs v Lions match kicks off at 3pm tomorrow, with the Kings v Jaguares match following at 5.15pm, and both games live on SuperSport 1.
The teams are:
Southern Kings: Chrysander Botha; Makazole Mapimpi, Berton Klaasen, Waylon Murray, Malcolm Jaer; Lionel Cronje, Louis Schreuder; Ruaan Lerm, Stefan Willemse, Andisa Ntsila, Mzwanele Zito, Irne Herbst, Ross Geldenhuys, Michael Willemse, Schalk Ferraira (capt)
Reserves: Martin Bezuidenhout, Schalk van der Merwe, Chris Helberg, Tyler Paul, Chris Cloete, Rudi van Rooyen, Masixole Banda, Luzuko Vulindlu
Jaguares: Joaquin Tuculet; Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Santiago Cordero; Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Gonzalo Bertranou; Leonardo Senatore, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti Pagadizaval, Felipe Arregui, Agustin Creevy, Lucas Noguera Paz
Reserves: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Cristian Bartoloni, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Baez, Felipe Ezcurra, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Ramiro Moyano
Duo to give it a blast for Kings
Wing sensation Mapimpi has been included in the starting lineup at right wing and will be running on for the biggest match of his career to date.
It was a breakout year for Mapimpi last year as he ran riot in the Currie Cup Qualifying and First Division competitions.
In 14 matches in the qualifying tournament, Mapimpi ran in a superb 13 tries, finishing second on the competition try-scoring list and then added another three tries in six games in the First Division.
He is quick and has the size to fend off defenders and given time should be able to flourish at this level.
Banda meanwhile has been named on the substitutes bench and the Currie Cup First Division player of the season for 2016 will hope to get as much game time as possible.
He led the Bulldogs attack superbly last year, whether playing at flyhalf or fullback and his quick decision-making and incisive breaks should make him a dangerous prospect for opposing teams.
The two will hope that they can make telling contributions in helping the Kings get their campaign off to the best possible start.
“For us, it is important to go out there full of confidence in ourselves and what we can bring,” said Kings head coach Deon Davids.
“We understand that we are playing against a quality side.
“We will have to focus a lot on ourselves, in terms of what we want to bring and how we will do it.
“We are looking forward to expressing ourselves and seeing our experienced players as well as the young ones getting out there and making use of the opportunity of playing Vodacom Super Rugby.”
Other Border players who are in the Kings starting mix include flyhalf Lionel Cronje and flank Andisa Ntsila, both Queen’s College old boys, and prop Ross Geldenhuys who began his rugby career with the Border Bulldogs back in 2005, and picked up a Super Rugby winners medal with the Highlanders in 2015.
Selborne College old boy Chris Cloete has been named among the substitutes and the explosive flanker will be very keen to get back on the field after his superb debut Super Rugby season was cruelly cut short by a knee injury in May last year.
Another former Border Bulldogs player in line to make his Super Rugby debut this weekend is prop Johannes Jonker who has been named on the bench for the Lions and will be looking forward to getting on the park when they take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs v Lions match kicks off at 3pm tomorrow, with the Kings v Jaguares match following at 5.15pm, and both games live on SuperSport 1.
The teams are:
Southern Kings: Chrysander Botha; Makazole Mapimpi, Berton Klaasen, Waylon Murray, Malcolm Jaer; Lionel Cronje, Louis Schreuder; Ruaan Lerm, Stefan Willemse, Andisa Ntsila, Mzwanele Zito, Irne Herbst, Ross Geldenhuys, Michael Willemse, Schalk Ferraira (capt)
Reserves: Martin Bezuidenhout, Schalk van der Merwe, Chris Helberg, Tyler Paul, Chris Cloete, Rudi van Rooyen, Masixole Banda, Luzuko Vulindlu
Jaguares: Joaquin Tuculet; Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Santiago Cordero; Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Gonzalo Bertranou; Leonardo Senatore, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti Pagadizaval, Felipe Arregui, Agustin Creevy, Lucas Noguera Paz
Reserves: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Cristian Bartoloni, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Baez, Felipe Ezcurra, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Ramiro Moyano
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos