Southern Kings v Leinster Rugby | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium KO: 13:15 TG4

The Team


Southern Kings Leinster Rugby
Schalk Ferreira Ed Byrne
Michael Willemse Sean Cronin
Luvuyo Pumpuma Andrew Porter
Stephan Greeff Ross Molony
Dries van Schalkwyk James Ryan
Khaya Majola Rhys Ruddock
Victor Sekekete Jordi Murphy
Andisa Ntsila Jack Conan
Rudi van Rooyen Luke McGrath
Kurt Coleman Ross Byrne
Sibusiso Sithole Dave Kearney
Luzuko Vulindlu Noel Reid
Berton Klaasen Rory O'Loughlin
Yaw Penxe Adam Byrne
Masixole Banda Joey Carbery

Stehan Coetzee James Tracy
Petrus Strauss Cian Healy
Martin Dreyer Michael Bent
Bobby de Wee Mick Kearney
Siyabulea Mdaka Josh van der Flier
Godlen Masimla Nick McCarthy
Ntabeni Dukisa Cathal Marsh
Jacques Nel Jordan Larmour


The Venue







This seasons Results

Dragons 16 - 39 Leinster
Leinster 37 - 9 Cardiff

Scarlets 57 - 10 Southern Kings
Connacht 32 - 10 Southern Kings

Match
The first mini-tour of the new look pro14 season is underway this afternoon with Southern Kings hosting Leinster Rugby in Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Southern Kings are significant underdogs coming in at 7/1 to win. Whilst predicted to be the weaker of the two new teams, the Southern Kings have played some cohesive rugby for a team recently thrown together. That said they have shipped two fairly heavy losses at the hands of the most recent winners of the pro12 in Scarlets (2017) and Connacht (2016).

Leinster field a young team with Bent, Healy and Cronin the veterans of the bunch. Despite the number of players under 25, Leinster still boast plenty of caps and should be confident of their ability to maintain form on their farthest trip away from home to date.

Prediction
I expect the Kings to to be a different side this weekend to what we've seen from them so far. They are likely to be in front of a big and potentially dejected crowd after the National sides heavy loss to the All Blacks this morning. This is a good opportunity for them to restore a bit of pride in South African rugby on home soil.

All that said, I think Leinsters miserly defence will offer little to a team that thrives off loose ball but struggles to build pressure through phases. Leinster are also fairly good at converting possession which the Kings will offer plenty of.

If the game remains tight in the last quarter I could see the crowd bringing the Kings home, but I expect it to be well put to bed by then.

Leinster by 15 points.