Lions journeyman joins the Kings
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:29
Veteran lock Willem Stoltz is the latest acquisition to the Eastern Province Kings team and will make his debut off the bench for Friday's First Division match against the Boland Cavaliers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Stoltz, who could boost the EP pack and line-out play considerably, should soon be joined by Springbok lock Barend Pieterse (Cheetahs) who is scheduled to start his stint with EP on November 1.
The 35-year-old Stoltz, who made his first-class debut in 1998, has played for the Lions, Cats, Leopards, Stormers, Quaggas and Namibia and even had a stint with Agen in France.
A true journeyman, he is one of that rare breed of players who seemingly keeps going forever.
Another out-of-town player who trained with EP this week, is former Falcons flyhalf Len Olivier.
In another surprise move, EP have Sharks utility back Monty Dumond on loan for the match. He will start on the bench.
EP strongman Jacques Potgieter will miss the match because of a slight shoulder injury, but the home team is fortunate to have Sevens Bok Mpho Mbiyozo in his place.
His Sevens exploits aside, Mbiyozo will be remembered for the great try he scored for the Southern Kings - the forerunner to the EP Kings - against the touring British and Irish Lions last year.
After a five-star performance against the Griffons in Welkom last weekend, scrumhalf Gerrie Odendaal retains his place, and with Marlon Lewis available again and making his return on the bench, Donald Stevens will be a spectator this time.
Boland caused quite a stir when last weekend's hero in their win against the Falcons, former Springbok flyhalf Louis Koen, was dropped from the side.
Koen was asked by the Cavalier bosses to make a decision between playing and coaching - and he opted for the latter.
He has been the Boland backline coach for the past three seasons.
With Koen out of the picture, Willie le Roux returns to the flyhalf berth.
EP are certainly the favourites this time out, but Boland captain Bolla Conradie thinks otherwise.
"I am confident we can beat the Kings," he said bluntly.
Boland, however, are boosted by the return of former Springbok flank Hilton Lobberts. His presence could make a huge difference to Boland's expected onslaught.
In George, SWD Eagles coach Johann Lerm, has decided to rest stalwart lock Henry Grimes for their match against the Griffons.
The Welkom outfit is on a high after defeating EP last weekend and Grimes' absence for such an important match could still backfire on the coach.
The Eagles will be aiming to maintain the pressure on the Eastern Province Kings at the top of the First Division log when they take on the Griffons in George on Friday.
The hosts are currently in second place after six games with 24 points and are four points (one victory) behind the log-leading EP Kings, who are in pole position and have played an extra game.
The Eagles will be favourites to record their sixth win of the competition. They have lost only three home games during the last two seasons and already beat the Border Bulldogs (33-12) and the Boland Cavaliers (45-36) at home this season. Their only home defeat in 2010 was against the Kings (19-17) in week six of the First Division.
First Division fixtures and teams:
Friday, September 10:
Eastern Province Kings v Boland Cavaliers
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth - Kick-off: 19.00)
The teams:
EP Kings: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 De Wet Barry (captain), 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 JJ Gagiano, 7 Mpho Mbiyozo, 6 Pietie Ferreira, 5 Lungelo Payi, 4 Nolan Clark, 3 Andre
Schlechter, 2 Antonio Halangahu, 1 Michael de Neuilly-Rice.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Fourie, 17 Riaan Vermeulen, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Zolani Mofu, 20 Marlon Lewis, 21 Matthew Tayler-Smith, 22 Monty Dumond.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Jacquin Jansen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Alex Kock, 11 Jeremy Plaatjies, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Bolla Conradie (captain), 8 Braam Immelman, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Franzel September, 5 Hottie Louw, 4 Nikolai Blignaut, 3 Eusebio Guinazu, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Andries Kruger, 17 Rossouw Kruger, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Thorleif Halvorsen, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Lionel Cornelius, 22 Brandon April.
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Assistant referees: B Malon, P Bosch
SWD Eagles v Griffons
(Outeniqua Park, George - Kick-off: 19.05)
The teams:
SWD Eagles: 15 Bobby Joubert, 14 Baldwin McBean, 13 Senithemba Zweni, 12 Bevin Fortuin, (captain), 11 Joe Breytenbach, 10 Ambrose Barends, 9 Jandré Blom, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Shawn Raubenheimer, 6 Lyndon Hartnich, 5 Danzil Manuel, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Anton van der Westhuizen, 2 Hans Grobler, 1 Jaco Terblanche.
Replacements: 16 Jandré de Beer, 17 Beyers Bekker, 18 Theuns Dercksen, 19 Christo du Plessis, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Eric Zana, 22 Wensley Scott.
Griffons: 15 Ruan Lamprecht, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Werner Griesel (captain), 12 Charl Weideman, 11 Tertius Maarman, 10 Tiaan van Wyk, 9 Hendrik van der Nest, 8 Nicky Steyn, 7 Marnus Briedenhann, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Christiaan van Rooyen, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Sarel Louw, 2 Pieter-Willem van Vuuren, 1 Kevin Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Derrick van Heerden, 17 Josephus Oosthuizen, 18 Johan van Heerden, 19 Albert
Parsons, 20 Enrico Schultz, 21 Shane Hancke, 22 Jaco Meyer.
Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
Assistant referees: T Jonker, C Wessels
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