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.
Thee IceMan
Guest
yeah, i guess i liked the competition better when it was 15 teams, 5 from each country and they all played each other, pure n simple. Oh well, will just have to adapt.
piru
Roar Rookie
The NBA is a bad example, as every team plays every other team Although you can do that with an 82 game season
taylorman
Roar Guru
The point is it's just another format, probably one you're not used to. Heard of the NBA? That's a pretty good comp from what I've heard. They have entire conferences that don't play each other. With respect, your comments are probably a bit more about you than the format, not being familiar or accepting of the conference setup. I don't like it much either, but I do get it.
Thee IceMan
Guest
Whats the point of having a competition where 1 team doesnt play ANY teams from a certain country? and gets to play other teams, like the Jagures and Sunwolves twice (if not more). PS. I tried to find some information for my question via google and the super rugby website.
Paul
Guest
Might want to do some reading up on the conference system. The Kings are in Africa 2, which is paired with the Aus Conference in 2017. Last year Africa 2 was paired with the NZ Conference and they played every NZ team.
Thee IceMan
Guest
The Kings are a joke and so is the Super Rugby Fixtures, the Kings dont play any NZ sides, such a stacked competition.
Glen
Guest
Life is too short to watch the Kings. They fell short of my quota tv time. The 6 nation's is top for my rugby viewing, wow what depth and strength playing strength, except for one team, being Italy, which somehow is still better than the Boks. Super rugby is now super diluted from 10 to 12 to 15 to a joke. Hey and the weather was too good to watch more than one game. Come on Scotland.
davSA
Guest
The Kings are not a creation of rugby , the are a political entity and played like one.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
That's great Michael. Let's do this then - you go and watch that, report the results back to us then, ok.
RedandBlack
Guest
Well I enjoyed this game - def not a classic but the Jags comitment to a passing entertaining game was just that entertaining.
crashy
Guest
10 penalty goals....
Michaelj
Guest
Super rugby's novelty has worn off.The netball showed the way with a reversion to domestic competition. It gets better audience ratings.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Very poor game of Jaguares. Kings have nothing.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
3'27 penalty Kings 3. 3-3
Nobrain
Roar Guru
2' penalty 3:00 jaguares Dias Bonilla
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Windy empty stadium