ULSTER – Speedsters Masixole Banda and Anthonie Volmink will join former Junior Springbok flyer, Yaw Penxe, in an exciting back-three combination in Ulster on Friday, when the Southern Kings will take on the home side in a PRO14 clash at Kingspan Stadium.
Southern Kings interim-coach, Barend Pieterse, called upon the duo after they recovered from niggles and moved Penxe from left wing to right wing for the clash.
Pieterse, standing in for coach Deon Davids who could not make the trip due to health reasons, also swopped outside centre Harlon Klaasen for Burton Klaasen in the other change at the back, while keeping faith in the same pack that stood up well against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein two weeks ago.
Harlon Klaasen has been moved to the bench, where the likes of Jurie van Vuuren and Godlen Masimla will also see some action after being included in place of Lindokuhle Welemu and Rudi van Rooyen.
Pieterse was optimistic that the Southern Kings will be competitive in this clash and added that they are still desperately hunting that first win in the competition.
"We came close a couple of times and we were poor a couple of times. Overall though, I feel we have continued to grow as a squad and as a team and has shown that we do not have to step aside for anyone in this competition. That first win will come, the important thing for us will be to play for it with determination and not frantic panic."
Pieterse feels that the pace of Volmink and good game management from Banda could add the spark to help them over the line. "Both are excellent players and does add that extra we are looking for. We are solid in most areas, but need to find that combination of consistency and counter-attack. Ulster will again be a tough task, especially at home, but we remain positive that we can beat any team any day."
The Kings team is:
15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Anthonie Volmink, 10 Martin Du Toit, 9 Rowan Gouws, 1 Schalk Ferreira, 2 Michael Willemse (capt), 3 Pieter Scholtz, 4 Stephan Greeff, 5 Bobby De Wee, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Martinus Burger, 8 Ruaan Lerm.
Reserves: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Johan Smith, 18 Dayan Van der Westhuizen, 19 Jurie Van Vuuren, 20 Eital Bredenkamp, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Barend Janse van Rensburg, 23 Harlon Klaasen