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Southern Kings caretaker coach Robbie Kempson says they are determined to give the Cheetahs a thorough workout on Saturday in a Super Rugby warm up match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The Kings have been replaced in Super Rugby for the 2014 season but will help teams like the Lions and Cheetahs warm up for the proper tournament.
Big rugby returns to Port Elizabeth for the first time since the completion of last year’s Super Rugby competition and the Southern Kings will be determined to make a big impact.
Speaking at the team announcement this week, Kempson said their aim would be to start with their experienced players and then introduce some youthful talent as the match progressed.
“We know the Cheetahs will probably field their strongest side, so we will kick off with the old heads and then bring on the young guns,” Kempson said.
“It is important to build up momentum for our team at this stage of the season and we have got to give them the best possible opposition.”
Kempson said they were not looking necessarily to prove a point as he saw the Kings as a work in progress.
“We are trying to build something here and that is why there is a mixture of older guys and youngsters. The Kings are trying to build long term and this is not about short-term statements. This is a long term project,” Kempson said.
Southern Kings skipper Darron Nell is hoping his team can produce some entertaining rugby, banking on the coaching expertise of former New Zealand flyhalf Carlos Spencer to introduce the X-factor.
“We have worked on a few things about the way we want to play and our backline coach Carlos Spencer has also brought in a few great ideas that have worked well in training,” Nell said.
“The Kings had a warm-up game within the squad last week and you could see as soon as we retained the ball we could play a bit.”
The Cheetahs, meanwhile, will be hoping flyhalf Johan Goosen will quickly find his stride after being sidelined for a lengthy period through injury. The highly-rated pivot comes in for Elgar Watts and will be keen to confirm his credentials after being the frontline Springbok choice before being struck by injury.
The Kings should be happy talented fullback Willie le Roux is being rested after falling on a shoulder, but Hennie Daniller brings plenty of experience and a booming boot and is equally capable of punishing the Kings if their execution is in any way faulty.
Jean Cook, who joined from the Bulls this year, will start at No 6 after the Cheetahs coaches had a look at him last week in warm-up games.
He successfully recovered from a hand injury and impressed when he came off the bench in their 66-19 win over Shimlas last Friday. He comes in for Boom Prinsloo who moves to the bench.
You are here: Home / MyPE / The Captain of the Boardwalk is looking forward to the Hobie 16 Nationals
Port Elizabeth is steadily laying claim to the title of the “Watersport Capital” as one more event is added to a packed April 2012. The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals will join the Weekend Post Ocean Racing Series, Splash Festival and the Specsavers Ironman as premier events showcasing Port Elizabeth as an excellent watersport venue.
The Boardwalk Hobie 16 Sailing Nationals will be sailed off Hobie Beach, which was named for the Hobie catamarans, from 27 to 30 April 2012. “We are extremely excited to be a part of this water sport and foresee a fantastic weekend on 27 to 30 April,” said Mr Clifford Ngakane, General Manager of the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Centre.
Sailing teams, each consisting of a skipper and one crew member, will sail in identical boats on courses laid just off of Shark Rock Pier making for a close and exciting spectacle.
The Algoa Bay Yacht Club will be providing on and off water support during the Nationals. The racing will be conducted by Race Officer, Ronnie Baer who will be supported with a crew that cut its teeth on the Hobie 16 Worlds held during 2005 on Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth. That event received unqualified thumbs up from international sailors for the perfect sailing conditions and friendly people.
The Hobie 16 is by far the largest multihull class in the world with active racing in all parts of the world.
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) have chosen to use the Hobie 16 in all ISAF World Games. It is the multihull that is used in all Regional, National and Continental Games where a multihull is to be sailed. The Hobie 16 is also the current ISAF Youth World boat. This makes the Hobie 16 the logical choice for an easy transition into the Olympics by many countries.
On Saturday 10 March, members of the media were taken out on a rubber duck to see the Captain of the Boardwalk, Clifford Ngakane and Caley Philips get a chance to experience the thrill of Hobie 16 Sailing – the smiles in the images below are enough to convince anyone to give Hobie Sailing a go.
Coming up next for local media is a sunset cruise as knowledgable Hobie and ABYC sailors educate our media mavens in the fine art of sailing.
Editor’s Notes: Now if we can successfully bid as a host city for the Volvo Ocean Race then we can look forward to spectacular close inshore racing when the Volvo ocean going yachts reach our neck of the woods. In addition we will get immense international exposure for the incredible watersport opportunities offered by Algoa Bay.