Willemse boost for struggling Kings

Port Elizabeth - The Kings have been boosted by the news that captain Michael Willemse does not have a broken hand following Saturday's 31-10 loss to Leinster in Port Elizabeth.

"Minor bumps and bruises but nothing that should result in any of our players being unavailable for this weekend’s match against Zebre," was the word from Kings team doctor Clement Plaatjies on Monday.

There had been particular concern over Willemse’s left hand, but x-rays showed no break and only soft-tissue damage.

Lock Dries van Schalkwyk is also nursing a soft-tissue injury to his left ankle. He initially sustained this in the match against Connacht but it flared up again against Leinster. Both players are expected to recover in time for this weekend’s encounter with Zebre.

Plaatjies also confirmed that props Entienne Swanepoel and Rossouw De Klerk would be available for selection. The pair had sat out for the match against Leinster after both suffered head injuries against Connacht and then subsequently failed their mandatory head injury assessments.

Absent from the Kings training session on Monday morning were scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen, who was suffering from neck spasms, and lock Jurie van Vuuren, who is on a course of antibiotics to treat a minor leg infection.

Flyhalf Kurt Coleman was also given a clean bill of health by Plaatjies, who reported that a troublesome quad muscle was simply “tight” and had responded well to treatment.

Saturday’s match against Zebre takes place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and kick-off is at 19:35.