Southen Kings Shafted Against British and Irish Lions

After two contrasting games against the Coastal teams, the Sharks and Western Province, the British and Irish Lions rolled into Port Elizabeth, to take on the Southern Kings as they launched their new franchise.

The Lions were coming off two wins, and the results were probably expected to be the other way around. The Game with the Sharks was a blowout, and the game with Western Province was close. Based on Super 14 form, I'd have expected it to be reversed, but it was also due to coach Ian McGeechan putting his near test side out against the Sharks, and playing a virtual mid-week side against Western Province.

So to the new Nelson Mandela stadium in Port Elizabeth. A great day for rugby in the Eastern Cape. Who cares that most of the players are ring ins from other areas around South Africa, or overseas. This was a day to celebrate Easter Cape rugby. The new Nelson Mandela stadium looked absolutely magnificent, although the surface needs a bit more work. It's normal for a new surface to experience some teething problems and need time to bring it up to international standard.
 
The match itself was played with great intensity, even though it was a virtual Lions "B" team. Derick Kuun led the Kings well and there were some stand out players.

Marco Wentzel and Ross Skeate showed they are quality locks and could make a great impact on provincial rugby in South Africa.

The two flanks, Solly Tybilika and Mpho Mbiyozo were a great flank combination and I was pleased to see quality black players given an opportunity and shining. It's a tragedy Tybilika has had to go through what he has. He may not be Bok standard, but he is definitely a top provincial player and should be in the starting lineup of one of our top sides. Mbiyozo on the other hand is all class and showed why he is a seven's Bok. I'd love to see him pay Super 14 next year, as he is all class and could be knocking on the door of the Boks before too long. He has all the skills and a fantastic work rate. He's also a great role model and a truly humble man.

Darron Nell was strong from the base of the scrum and is a player to watch in the future.

Francois Hougaard at scrumhalf had a strong game before limping off injured. The Bulls are certainly blessed at scrumhalf, and he may not get a lot of game time there, so don't be surprised to see him move provinces.

Jaco van der Westhuyzen has always been a prodigious talent and controlled the game well. Sure he made mistakes, but he does some things so well, and is so versatile too. It's a pity he now plays in Japan.

It was great to see local boy Tiger Mangweni playing, and he is such a solid player. I thought he linked well, and did everything expected of him.

Not one of the Kings has a bad game, and the passion and intensity they played with was awesome. The local support was great, with a crowd of about 35000, and it shows we simply have to have a Super rugby team from the Eastern Cape.

It's a pity the result didn't go our way, but the ref, Nigel Owens, was as biased as I've seen. I don't think he deliberately meant to be, or I hope he didn't but it doesn't excuse the fact. He was very one-sided in his policing of the breakdowns, and the Lions were hanging around offside all day which made it hard for the Southern Kings to build momentum and get over the advantage line. The yellow cards were extremely harsh, and the penalty try he awarded the Lions in the second half was a joke. The ball was out, and at best it was a penalty, but i'd even debate that. In the end the result was really secondary to the occasion however, as the Southern Kings launched, and the Lions build up to the first test with the Springboks.

The Lions now move to Durban for the first test, and the Southern Kings go...where??? There is nothing else on for the Kings. No competitions to play in, no team to speak of, nothing to build upon...it's a tragedy. The Kings have been a political showpiece used by SARU to gain Government support and appear as if they are doing something. Why do we have to put up with the Stormers/Western Province, the Golden Lions and the Cheaters embarrassing South Africa with their rugby teams. Give the Kings a chance to show what they can do They deserve it, and the passion of the Eastern Cape will be enough for them to make us all proud...