Publications
Partners
Cape Town - The Kings have rolled out the heavy artillery for their final pre-season game against Griquas in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
No 8 Luke Watson is back after a long injury layoff and will captain the side.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined since October last year with a shoulder injury. He has therefore missed all their Super Rugby pre-season games this year, in which they managed unimpressive victories over the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (28-12) and an SWD Franchise XV (29-13), followed by a 41-31 loss to the Lions on Saturday.
The Kings will also field most of their new signings, with Ronnie Cooke and Andries Strauss combining in the midfield, Demetri Catrakilis starting at flyhalf, Steve Sykes at lock and Springbok Bandise Maku at hooker.
Other imports who will feature on an extended bench include Edgar Marutlulle, Daniel Adongo, Nicolas Vergallo and Hadleigh Parkes.
The Kings start their Super Rugby campaign at home to Australia's Force on February 23.
Teams:
Kings:
15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Siyanda Grey, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornel du Preez , 5 Steve Sykes, 4 David Bulbring, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Substitutes - from: Edgar Marutlulle, BG Uys, Jaco Engels, Daniel Adongo, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes, Marcello Sampson, Johan Herbst.
Griquas:
15 Richard Lawson, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 PJ Vermeulen, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Deon Carney, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Edwin Hewitt, 3 Brummer Badenhorst, 2 Matt Dobson, 1 Steph Roberts.
Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Eugene Butterworth, 18 Janro van Niekerk, 19 Joubert Horn, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Marnus Hugo, 22 Jacques Coetzee, 23 Walter Venter.
No 8 Luke Watson is back after a long injury layoff and will captain the side.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined since October last year with a shoulder injury. He has therefore missed all their Super Rugby pre-season games this year, in which they managed unimpressive victories over the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (28-12) and an SWD Franchise XV (29-13), followed by a 41-31 loss to the Lions on Saturday.
The Kings will also field most of their new signings, with Ronnie Cooke and Andries Strauss combining in the midfield, Demetri Catrakilis starting at flyhalf, Steve Sykes at lock and Springbok Bandise Maku at hooker.
Other imports who will feature on an extended bench include Edgar Marutlulle, Daniel Adongo, Nicolas Vergallo and Hadleigh Parkes.
The Kings start their Super Rugby campaign at home to Australia's Force on February 23.
Teams:
Kings:
15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Siyanda Grey, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornel du Preez , 5 Steve Sykes, 4 David Bulbring, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Substitutes - from: Edgar Marutlulle, BG Uys, Jaco Engels, Daniel Adongo, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes, Marcello Sampson, Johan Herbst.
Griquas:
15 Richard Lawson, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 PJ Vermeulen, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Deon Carney, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Edwin Hewitt, 3 Brummer Badenhorst, 2 Matt Dobson, 1 Steph Roberts.
Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Eugene Butterworth, 18 Janro van Niekerk, 19 Joubert Horn, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Marnus Hugo, 22 Jacques Coetzee, 23 Walter Venter.
