Kings have shown their importance
Davids made the claim after being questioned on the impact of having four players -Chris Cloete, Andisa Ntsila, Lionel Cronje and Makazole Mapimpi – selected to participate in the Springbok training squad, which takes place from May 21 to 23 in Johannesburg.
"If you look at the players invited to the training camps and where they were before they got here, it is a fantastic achievement. Some were playing First Division while Lionel [Cronje] was almost nowhere in SA rugby.
"It [the selections] just emphasises the importance of this franchise and how, if players get an opportunity by being put in a good structure, they can excel. This is testimony of what we are about and try to achieve.
"It's an excellent achievement for the team and individuals. It's something that mustn't be seen out of context and that under difficult circumstances, these guys excelled by putting their best foot forward. They must be applauded for that," Davids said.
On the match itself, Davids knew full well that their discipline needed to be at its best – something they failed to achieve.
"The discipline is frustrating at this point. We realised that when you concede a lot of penalties, you give the opposition opportunities to play in your half. A team like the Brumbies likes playing from setpieces.
"We put ourselves under tremendous pressure and didn't help our cause, so we have to improve that. I don't think some of the penalties were careless or reckless but we need to look deep in ourselves to rectify it," he added.
Kings captain Lionel Cronje put the defeat down to a lack of execution when they managed to find themselves inside the Brumbies' 22.
"We created enough opportunities but didn't execute well enough. We had two or three chances in their 22 where could have and should have scored. We could have extended the [10-5] lead at that point, which would have put us in a position to win the game.
"We weren't clinical enough at that point and that's disappointing for the standards we set. With everything being said, the way we were still in the game until the end bodes well. A sign of a good side is when you are not playing well but are still in the game – that shows good character and good sign that we are heading in the right direction," Cronje said.
@rugby365com
