KINGS READY FOR LIONS
Jantjies has X-factor
SOUTHERN Kings centre Ronnie Cooke has warned his teammates that inventive Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies has the vital X-factor that could hurt them badly when the teams clash in a crunch Super Rugby relegation showdown tomorrow.
The Kings will be fighting for their Super Rugby survival at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium against a Lions outfit determined to regain their place at the highest level.
“Elton brings an X-factor to the game that will suit the Lions because they play a running game. He could spark something for them,” Cooke warned.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann has opted to include all three of the players who recently returned from their loan stints at other Super Rugby franchises.
The return of Jantjies, Franco van der Merwe and Martin Bezuidenhout has given the Lions a massive shot in the arm ahead of their biggest game of the season.
Apart from Jantjies, Cooke said there are other players in the Lions backline who can inflict damage on the Kings.
“We know their players well because we have been studying them during our video work for the past couple of weeks,” said Cooke. “They have also got good centres in Stokkies Hanekom and Dylan des Fountain who can make tries out of nothing. The Lions backline is not afraid to give the ball air.”
Cooke, whose regular centre partner Andries Strauss was ruled out by a hand injury, will now team up with Shane Gates.
“Though scoring tries will be important over the two legs, the big thing is we must win at all costs, ” Cooke said.
“If that means taking kicks at posts, that is what we will do. We have to win at all costs. We were very unfortunate to lose Andries because he brought a lot to the team.
“But I have trained with Shane all season and he brings something different to the game. So it is not a big adjustment to play with him.”
Alan Solomons, Kings director of rugby, does not believe there is any major advantage in playing the first leg at home in Port Elizabeth.
“It is six of one and half a dozen of the other. This is just the way it is – and the play-offs have to be conducted in this fashion, ” Solomons said.
“We appreciate the home game does have some advantages – you sleep in your own bed and you are in your usual environment and you play on a field that you are used to.
“But, at the conclusion of the play-offs, both teams will have had that advantage.”