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Kings welcome the return of Watson

The Kings face the Sharks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, August 29, for the second time in the Currie Cup.

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The Sharks managed their only win this season against the Kings in the first round when they scaped through to a 33-25 victory in Durban.

The men from Port Elizabeth will hope to turn one over on the visitors with the help of inspirational captain Luke Watson.

The veteran flank missed the game against the Pumas last weekend, which the Kings lost 13-15, and Janse van Rensburg is hoping his return introduces a sense of calm on the field as they chase their first win of the season.

Watson suffered a "dead leg" in the Durban clash against the Sharks, but has fully recovered to be included in the starting line-up.

He has replaced the injured Jacques Engelbrecht, with Thembelani Bholi being rewarded after a fine performance last week, and he takes over the No.7 jersey.

"Luke is an exceptional leader and only now that I have had the opportunity to work with him do I realise what he can contribute," Janse van Rensburg said.

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"He has a feel for the game and a really good understanding of what to do, of what will work, and it's really good to have him back."

Regular vice-captain Tim Whitehead remains on the sidelines due to concussion, while, in a rotation move, prop Lizo Gqoboka replaces Schalk Ferreira who will start on the bench.

Janse van Rensburg acknowledged that they faced a tough challenge against a Sharks side who will be as motivated to win as the home team.

"We have had opportunities to finish things off in our previous two matches, which we didn't take, and it is not going to get any easier," van Rensburg added.

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"But we know we have to get the basics right and try to be more accurate in our approach.

"Every week we go out there and make sure we give our best, and that is what we will be doing on Saturday. We will focus on our processes and if we make sure we go out there and give our best, everything else will look after itself."

EP Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Ronnie Cooke (vice-captain), 12 JP du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Luke Watson (captain), 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Replacements: 16 Schalk Ferreira, 17 Edgar Marutlulle, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Stefan Willemse, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Dwayne Kelly, 22 Hansie Graaff.

Date: Saturday, August 29

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Kick-off: 19.05 (17.05 GMT)

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Jacques Nieuwenhuis

 

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