Kings final squad

Keo:

8 Jan 2013

Tiger Mangweni, the EP Kings’ 2012 Player of the Year, has not been included in the Southern Kings’ 40-man Super Rugby squad.

Mangweni was the backbone of EP’s unbeaten 16-match streak in last year’s Currie Cup First Division and the popular vice-captain received a standing ovation when he accepted the award. However, according to Die Burger, the 33-year-old centre is now likely to play a leadership role for EP in the Vodacom Cup, along with 33-year-old utility forward Wayne van Heerden.

The Kings start their Super Rugby campaign at home against the Force on 23 February.

Southern Kings’ squad:

Forwards –

Rynier Bernardo, David Bullbring, Kevin Buys, Cornell du Preez, Jacques Engelbrecht, Jaco Engels, Schalk Ferreira, Hannes Franklin, Ross Geldenhuys, Lizo Gqoboka, Virgil Lacombe, Tomas Leonardi, Bandise Maku, Edgar Marutlulle, Mpho Mbiyozo, Darron Nell, Daniel Adongo, Devin Oosthuizen, Steven Sykes, Wimpie van der Walt, Luke Watson (c)
Backs – Demetri Catrakilis, Ronnie Cooke, Wesley Dunlop, Siyanda Grey, Johan Herbst, Michael Killian, SP Marais, Scott Mathie, Waylon Murray, Hadleigh Parkes, Sergeal Petersen, Marcello Sampson, Shakes Soyizwapi, Wayne Stevens, Andries Strauss, Elrich van Vuuren, Shaun Venter, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead

Players who missed the cut:

Forwards – Boetie Britz, Charl du Plessis, Armand du Preez, Samora Fihlani, Thabo Mamojele, Wayne van Heerden
Backs – Ntabeni Dukisa, Shane Gates, Tiger Mangweni, Norman Nelson, Mzwandile Stick, Scott van Breda

 Does not look worse than what remained of the Lions. Relegation matches are going to look interesting later in the year.

Record losses inevitable.   There are virtually no players that would match up on Super 15 level in that squad.  

 So thats what the wooden spoon looks like in 2013... Its like sprinkling glitter on horse manure...Sure you have spots of gold (Sykes, Andries Strauss, Catrakilis) but its still just shit!!

Are they good enough to win he wooden spoon?

Second half of season could get real bad. Wonder how much the players will enjoy the season.

Astonishingly they only have one forward named Wimpie. These guys are going to be decimated. And the team deserves that fate, getting their promotion in smoke filled rooms. You have to feel sorry for players like Ronnie Cooke though.....a guy who has always come to play.

They will say Siya Kolisi, Bjorn Basson, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Grant Hattingh, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, Sbura Sithole, Tim Whitehaed, Keagan Daniel, Ryan Kankowski, Terra Mtembu, Alan Dell all escaped their grasp.

The latest on that list could have been Sergeal Petersen but due to them getting Super Rugby status he has signed a contract with them.

This side will get slaughtered but they do have some useful players in props Kevin Buys and Ross Geldenhuys, locks David Bulbring (who had a great game against the touring England side last year) and Steve Sykes, hooker Maku and flanker Luke Watson. I see the big muscular Kenyan Adongo has also joined them - the lad who cant catch a ball but built like a brick shit house

In the backs they have Catrakilis at 10 and centres Adries Strauss and Waylon Murray, plus Killian on the wing.

No great shakes - the only player who shoud be playing for one of the better S15 sides is lock David Bulbring

Adongo

 This rabble is the result of SARU. 

If they were going to get SuperXV status, it should have been for a minimum for 3 years. 

Who would sign for a team that is going to get stuffed the first year as all other new entrants have, and then get eliminated.

Although that could be another stuff up for SARU, because the play off game with the Lions or who ever may not even happen.

 This rabble is the result of SARU. 

If they were going to get SuperXV status, it should have been for a minimum for 3 years. 

Who would sign for a team that is going to get stuffed the first year as all other new entrants have, and then get eliminated.

Although that could be another screw up for SARU, because the play off game with the Lions or who ever may not even happen.

I watched a few of Adongo's games this year for Counties Manukau and he played nicely. Nothing to go mad about but he had a good time in a team that played superb running rugby and were promoted to the premier division for it at the expense of Otago!

Not sure David Bulbring is as good as you say he is Saffex. Wouldn't Steven Sykes be more worthy of that mention if you say only 1 player in the team worthy of a better team. They have a number of players imo that could be good players but as a team, I hope they are shut out. Hate for Luke Watson...

Bulbring was always good when he played for the Lions and then left for EP and I never saw him again. Then he played against England as was the best of the Barbarian players - I recall the Pom commenators being impressed with him.

Sykes is getting on, Bulbring is only 23 or 24, hence my call that he should be playing for the say the Bulls who are short of locks.

Its a disgrace how this side has gained entry and because of it they have won no friends and will get very little support.

Catrakillis was a fool for leaving the Stormers as well.

Have not seen much of Adongo, is a freak size wise and has pace, I just know that when he was at the Sharks and Bulls they bitched that he had no hands

Saffex, for once I mostly agrree with you, that is a competitive squad. No great shakes as you said but they could compete with the right mentality, coaching and injury luck.

I want to add to your list however.

I also rate Ronnie Cooke, to me he has always been a player with great heart and commintment, much more than he actually has kg's in his body, the type of guy you would go to war with. If that mentality can rub off on the rest of them they might not be as bad as some poeple seem to suggest.

Then they also have 2 very good international signings there:

Hadleigh Parks: some good ability one to watch.

And we all saw Nicolas Vergallo play in the Rugby Championship for Argentina last year. won't rate him the next Pichot, however he is gritty and can get things done.