PORT ELIZABETH – The Kings, who have chalked up 27 tries in their opening eight Super Rugby games, will be hoping to be on the front foot again when they play the Melbourne Rebels at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (kick-off is at 7.30pm).
The Kings have made only one change to the starting lineup which beat the Waratahs in Sydney last week. Martin Bezuidenhout will play at hooker, while Michael Willemse will be on the replacements bench.
Meanwhile, the Rebels have made two changes to the side that managed to hold the Sharks to a 9-9 draw at Kings Park on Saturday. Colby Fainga’a returns at flank after missing the Sharks for the birth of his daughter and Marika Koroibete is back at left wing after recovering from injury.
Kings team:
15 Masixole Banda, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Lionel Cronje (captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Justin Forwood. Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Schalk van der Merwe 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Stefaan Willemse, 21 Johan Steyn, 22 Nicolaas Hanekom, 23 Pieter-Steyn de Wet.
Rebels team:
15 Reece Hodge, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Tom English, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nic Stirzaker (Captain), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Jake Schatz, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Fereti Sa’aga. Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Laurie Weeks, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Will Miller, 21 Hugh Sinclair, 22 Mick Snowden, 23 Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Deon Davids names @SouthernKingsSA team to take on @MelbourneRebels: https://t.co/dh3arWqGr8 pic.twitter.com/UENO80IAc2
— Southern Kings (@SouthernKingsSA) April 27, 2017