Are we really going to do a preview for the Kings?! The debate around that question took about 8.7 seconds which is precisely as long as it’s going to take the EP franchise to concede their first try. Jokes aside, in the spirit of all that is Fantasy Rugby Scout we have tried our best to put aside most of the existing bias against the Kings to bring you an almost objective article. Anything less would just be unethical, almost like trying to field 5 foreign players in a Super Rugby side when the rules clearly state that 2 is the maximum allowed – really now, who does that?!
Luke Watson – This guy has it all! Gangster tattoos, his own fan club and he gets to be captain of Daddy’s rugby club!
It’s quite difficult to be serious about a team that has no existing Super Rugby credentials and then to add to that, doesn’t even have noticeable Currie Cup credentials in the modern era. The EP Kings have been wallowing in the Currie Cup 1st division since 2006 and will have to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes if they hope to make an impression on the Super Rugby community. The side will be captained by Luke Watson who is their best player and if you don’t believe us, just ask him. Head coach is Kiwi Matt Sexton but it’s unlikely he’ll be calling the shots…
Head politician, Cheeky Watson, seems to be quite optimistic about his teams’ chances, so much so that he has already asked SARU for the Kings to be guaranteed a 2nd successive season in Super Rugby (irrespective of performance). Then, to develop local rugby talent, Watson has been trying to sneak in as much international talent as he possibly can. A lot of trash-talk has been dished out about the Kings and very little of it has been about rugby, and we’re no different. They might complain that isn’t fair but if they think we’re being harsh just wait till Super Rugby starts.
Team Changes
None – it’s quite difficult to make changes to a team that’s never played Super Rugby before.
Players to Watch
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll have any Kings players in your Fantasy league squad (unless your name is Cheeky Watson) but here are pretty much the core players of the Southern Kings:
Demetri Catrakilis (10m) One of the standout fly-halves in the 2012 Currie Cup (and yet another one to have escaped from Newlands) and the most expensive player in the Kings squad at 10m – Catrakilis is going to have his work cut out for him trying to spark a fairly no-name brand backline. That’s even if his forwards can get him the ball to begin with…
Michael Killian (7.5m) Killian has the potential to make light work of any defensive structure thrown his way but we have a feeling that this season he’ll actually spend far more time as a part of the defensive structure.(Note: Before you go out and buy this guy, he has already broken his arm in pre-season and will be out for 6 weeks)
Bandise Maku (7m) At 7m he’s not overpriced as a player, but do you really want to invest 7m in front row grunt for a team that is not going to feature anywhere except in the PE newspapers?
Luke Watson (9m) After recovering from a bout of bulimia, Luke Watson is back and this time he means business. At 9m he is the second most expensive player in the Kings squad but he is most definitely the number 1 player in the Presidents’ heart. Luke recently said he was sorry about his “Dutchmen” comments and was very sincere – we’re sure everyone believed him (especially the Loftus Versfeld Luke Watson Fan Club). Watson is a prolific try-scorer on attack but his role will be mostly defensive, on and off the field.
2012 Performance
After winning the 2012 Currie Cup 1st Division, the EP Kings failed to make it through the promotion / relegation match and will stay in the Currie Cup 1st Division. Again. They did however “qualify” for Super Rugby.
Prediction
We look forward to welcoming the Lions back to Super Rugby in 2014.
Betting
have 501 to 1 odds on the Kings winning the Super 15 and 21:1 on making the playoffs. If you’re one of the 3 delusional Kings fans who voted in our latest poll why not put your money where you foot is? Bet365 are running a promotion- click here or on our banner to register and they’ll double your first deposit.
Tags: Cheeky Watson, Fantasy Rugby, fantasy rugby tips, Kings, Luke Watson, Preview, Southern Kings, super 15, Super 15 rugby, Super Rugby, Super Rugby Preview, Super XV
Seriously, these are your thoughts and predictions, that you as a proudly South African rugby fan have conjured up .
@Bruce I’m proudly South African and a proud Lions fan. Our Super Rugby spot was stolen by a team that wasn’t even good enough to be in the Currie Cup. Politics, corruption… does that make you proud to be South African?
I repeat my comment from the UDT message board:
Very noble Bruce, and I’m sure many more South African would be supporting the Kings had they truly earned their spot in Super Rugby, as it stands they can’t even earn a spot in the Currie Cup, something the Lions won as recently as 2011. The manner of the Kings promotion to Super Rugby stinks of politics and corruption as Shalto says and unfortunately I am of the opinion that respect is earned not demanded.
Writing as a Kiwi, I would like to point out that in the situation with the Kings there seems to be far too much misdirected malice.
The situation is not the fault of the players or their coaches or even their fans.
Surely any anger needs to be directed towards those responsible for the situation that seems to have been lurching about for 5 years. That anger shouldn’t be displaced towards the team or their fans.
And surely South Africans should want the King’s to be competitive in the super 15 as this would almost certainly lead to a stronger South African rugby.
Don’t let negativity win the day!
Thanks dinosaur, nice to hear a kiwi perspective of the matter.
I do agree that there is far too much malice, from myself and many other South Africans, and don’t get me wrong, I do want the Kings to be competitive in Super Rugby, I just don’t believe they will be. I believe if they had been made to climb the rugby ladder in the usual fashion they would be in a much better position to be competitive, as it is I have to sympathise with both the coaches and players because they will undoubtedly be like lambs to the slaughter this season.
I also agree that the coaches and players are not to blame and it is SARU who should have handled the situation better, however some blame must lie on the Kings management who pushed SARU to let them into Super Rugby before they were ready and have in the process guaranteed the failure of their franchise this year, something I believe even they are aware of if their excuse making pre-season is anything to go by.
Being South African is irrelevant. We poked fun at the Blues and the Lions incessantly last season (till the Lions beat the Sharks… Karma?). I for one am happy the Kings are in, there’s more material there to poke fun at than Piri Weepu’s Jersey (See, I can’t help it!)
No one is above banter and teasing. Including ourselves (just look at the “about us” page http://fantasyrugbyscout.com/about-us/). We even bring up poor Dan’s hair problem…
The whole Kings thing was handled badly – this debate is going to carry on all season.
Bottom line is that they’ve been forced into a competition that is going to cause them more harm than good. The general public have turned against them for the corrupted way things were handled. If they had just managed to focus on playing good rugby and actually compete in the Currie Cup, they would have had much more support!
Nobody ever cares who made the decisions, and nobody really blames the players for being thrown into these situations. Seriously, who would stand up and say “uhm…I’m sorry guys…but I don’t think we should push the envelope so hard just yet…I don’t think we’re ready…” or good enough!
But it is what it is. And with all the seriousness out there in the world, we need to make fun of someone, and this year it’s the Kings.
And hey, nobody says they can’t prove me wrong, but they will have to stun the majority of the rugby world to not prove me right.
I am a Kings supporter and realistic about things to come. Our only real shot at winning a game is the first game at home against the force …. force traveling during that week… kings as unknown factor… motivation and spirits still high. Only problem is I think the team could be under cooked as players are being saved and nurtured before this game due to lack of squad depth. Will b downhill after that. Next possible win will be against the rebels in Aus (unlikely though as this will be the last game of a brutal 4 week tour). then the 2 games against the cheetahs… anything can happen pending on which cheetahs team pitches on the day and what players are injured as they themselves do not have major squad depth. A key injury here and there and things could go either way. If Catrakiles gets injured Kings are screwed as Dunlop and Whitehead just not good enough for that level. Our tight five is a concern. Loosies are OK, scrumhalf OK, flyhalf OK, centres Good, wings dont know yet, fullback good on attack 50/50on defence and if our tight five cant keep their own we are in for a very long season. Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst… still loyal to the end though. PS – good luck to the Lions with their challenge – hoping for a cracker of a promo/relegation at the end of he year (will be the game to watch – like a war on a rugby pitch)
I’m surprised the ozzies and kiwis aren’t more miffed about the kings inclusion. it’s easy home and away points for all the SA teams.
Great article – the witty writing makes me smile and occasionally burst out laughing at the office. it can be awkward.
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