The Kings will be looking to kick-start their 2017 Super Rugby campaign with a winning start when they take on Argentina’s Jaguares on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores from the game, starting from 2:15am AEDT.
The Nelson Mandela Bay side wrapped up their pre-season preparations with wins against the Eagles and Border Bulldogs. Victories against Currie Cup First Division sides is less of a challenge than their Super Rugby foes, of course.
The team, however, will be heading into Round 1 full of confidence, and will be hoping to improve from 2016’s two wins from 15 games in this year’s instalment of the competition.
The Kings starting XV will feature new Super Rugby caps in wing Makazole Mapimpi, centre Berton Klaasen and the lock pairing of Irne Herbst and Mzwanele Zito, who are going to be looking to make an impression from the first minute.
The Jaguares have one uncapped player, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, who will be starting at flyhalf, partnering up with scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou. The two replace the injured Martin Landajo and Nicholas Sanchez – a massive blow for the Argentine based side.
One cannot predict what to expect from a new-look Southern Kings side, but we can expect from the Jaguares powerful scrummaging and a very skilful, experienced backline which possesses the likes of Santiago Cordero and Joaquín Tuculet, with a lot of speed to burn.
Neither of these sides had any great deal of success in 2016, but matched up against each other in the first round of the new season they now both have a great chance to start 2017 on a high note. Who will it be that gets the win?
Join The Roar for live scores from the game, starting from 2:15am AEDT.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Six months after Argentina rugby president  Gabriel Travaglini revealed the Jaguares had been invited to return to Super Rugby in 2026, Super Rugby officials…
Australia may have lost the Bledisloe Cup again this year, but they have a good chance of winning the Tri Nations title after Argentina…
This week the looming prospect of a southern hemisphere rugby landscape without South Africa got a step closer with the Springboks' withdrawal from this…
Coronavirus continues to make a telling impact on Super Rugby, with the Jaguares-Highlanders match in Buenos Aires called off and declared a draw. The…
Both the geographical location of Argentina and the lack of professional rugby in the region make it very difficult for the UAR to organise…
It may be called the South African conference, but all the evidence is pointing towards a certain Argentinian side finishing the season atop it.…
