Victory over fellow-strugglers Benetton Treviso has become “non-negotiable” for the struggling Isuzu Southern Kings as they bid to jump-start their misfiring season, Kings head coach Deon Davids says.
Neither team has set the Guinness PRO season alive, and fans can expect a dogfight for vital log points at the Madibaz Stadium on Saturday.
While the Kings are bottom of Conference B with 11 points from nine outings, Benetton have fared marginally better with 18 points from the same number of games.
“This is our last game before the break and we will have to work very hard to ensure we get that result we need. Getting a result against Benetton is a non-negotiable,” Davids said.
The Kings coach is under pressure to deliver a victory against a Benetton side who lost narrowly to the Cheetahs in the first game of their South African tour.
The Italians are missing 15 international players who played four Tests for Italy in the recently completed European autumn test series.
Benneton coach Kieran Crowley is expecting a tough duel for the points on offer.
“The Kings will be desperate for a result at home,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how our boys react. This is the first time for them being in the team with so many players back in Italy. It is about backing up now and we had a reasonable performance against the Cheetahs.
“The Kings game will be an interesting one for us around our development perspective and the culture of the club.”
Hooker Kerron van Vuuren will make his debut for a Kings team that shows seven changes to the starting lineup and three positional switches.
After hooker Alandre van Rooyen sustained a concussion in the match against Connacht, Van Vuuren (on loan from the Sharks) will win his first cap. Prop Pieter Scholtz will also be making a return from a shoulder injured he sustained last season and will start in the No 3 jersey.
Powerful Nicolaas “NJ” Oosthuizen switches from tighthead prop to loosehead this week.
Martinus Burger will also make a return to the starting XV and he replaces Jurie van Vuuren in a rotational switch.
Four changes in the backline will see the return of Michael Botha at fullback, while Bjorn Basson gets a start at left wing where he replaces Michael Makase.
Yaw Penxe moves from left wing to the right side.
Masixole Banda moves to flyhalf in the place of Martin du Toit who sustained a knee injury against Connacht.
The Kings will start with Tertius Kruger at inside centre and Meli Rokoua on the outside. This change comes about because Berton Klaasen sustained a leg injury which has kept him out of contention this week, while Harlon Klaasen is on the bench.
Ulrich Beyers will provide utility cover for the backline from the bench, making his first appearance since Round 2...