EP Kings make one change in Currie Cup for Pumas

Eastern Province Kings Currie Cup coach Brent Janse van Rensburg has made one
change to his team to play the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

The Kings beat the Free State Cheetahs last weekend and the coach has kept
the changes to a minimum, with the only switch seeing prop Schalk Ferreira taking
Lizo Gqoboka’s spot in the front row, with Gqoboka named on the bench.

“The team is very similar to last week’s side but this week we will be
starting Schalk Ferreira at loosehead, with Lizo dropping to the bench,”
Janse van Rensburg said.

“It is part of our rotation plan after Lizo played three games in a row.

“Schalk is a very experienced forward and we felt it was time to give
him another opportunity after he played three in a row earlier in the season.”

Despite registering their first win of the season over the Cheetahs, Janse
van Rensburg said they realised they would face a massive challenge in Nelspruit.

“That win was very important for us because it was reward for the hard
work the players have put in and it will have helped our confidence,”
Janse van Rensburg. “But we know, while we need to be confident, we cannot
be arrogant because we will still have to work hard for any win and nothing
will just fall into our laps.

“Playing in Nelspruit is always a tough challenge and we know the Pumas
will be out to make a statement after losing to Griquas last weekend.”

Captain Tim Whitehead echoed Janse van Rensburg’s sentiments and said
their focus remained solely in their next game. “Yes, it (the win) was
a bit of a relief for us because we have been working so hard over the last
couple of months and just to be rewarded with a good victory over the Cheetahs
was massive for us,” Whitehead said.

“But now we are really keen for the next challenge and we are making
sure we are just focusing on one game at a time.”

EP Kings

Schalk Ferreira, Martin Ferreira, Tom Botha, Stefan Willemse, Steven Sykes
(vice-captain), Paul Schoeman, Thembelani Bholi, Tim Agaba, Enrico Acker, Karlo
Aspeling, Luther Obi, Tim Whitehead (captain), JP du Plessis, Siyanda Grey,
Scott van Breda.

Replacements : Edgar Marutlulle, Lizo Gqoboka, Simon Kerrod, Cornel Hess, Jacques
Engelbrecht, Dwayne Kelly, Elgar Watts.