Ken Borland

The Southern Kings have neither the funds nor the players that the Bulls and Stormers do, but there will be as much attention on their Vodacom SuperRugby debut in Port Elizabeth as there will be on the humdinger expected at Loftus Versfeld for the north/south clash.

The Western Force should provide reasonable opposition and at least some chance of victory for the Kings, but the downside for the competition newbies is that there has been precious little time for their team to gel as a unit for one of the games they would have targeted for a win.

Captain Luke Watson has a key role for the Kings in this regard and is one of the few members of their squad who knows what SuperRugby is all about, having played in 82 matches for the Stormers and Sharks.

Lock Steven Sykes, centre Andries Strauss and hooker Bandise Maku have also played enough SuperRugby to know what to expect, but such is the pace and intensity of the southern hemisphere competition that the Kings are most definitely being thrown into the deep end. Most observers expect defeat on Saturday to be the precursor to a series of batterings for the Eastern Cape minnows.

While many are eagerly preparing themselves to mock the Kings’ efforts this season, the chance their participation gives the likes of former Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, 18-year-old SA Schools wing Sergeal Petersen, fullback SP Marais and young forwards Wimpie van der Walt and David Bulbring to play on this stage should be welcomed.

The Kings enter a whole new world at 19:10 on Saturday night, but at the same time on Friday night, all eyes will be on Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria when two of the title contenders clash.

The Stormers will be chasing a third successive win on that hallowed turf and victory will certainly set them on their way to another strong challenge.

Some key injuries will count heavily against them, though. Schalk Burger’s imminent return has just turned out to be a fanciful yarn, while the absence of lock Eben Etzebeth means the Bulls pack now nears the Stormers’ in terms of physicality and ability.

The absence of hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and centre Juan de Jongh, both Springboks, are further spokes in the Stormers’ wheel, but eighthman Duane Vermeulen is a man who can inspire a forward pack and there is still plenty of quality in the backline.

Elton Jantjies has been entrusted with the number 10 jersey and the responsibility of sparking that backline, with the Stormers also calling on the experience of Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana to ensure they keep calm in the cauldron of Loftus.

Bulls captain Pierre Spies called the Stormers/Western Province the best team in South Africa last year and he is aware that the Bulls’ prospects in their second season since the Great Trek saw the likes of Matfield, Du Preez, Rossouw and the two Bothas depart, will be measured against how they perform against the 2012 SA Conference winners.

The Stormers can expect little leeway from a Bulls side that will be steely in midfield with Wynand Olivier teaming up with JJ Engelbrecht, and physical up front with the likes of Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Flip van der Merwe and Werner Kruger thriving on the tight exchanges.

While the Bulls and Stormers are competing for an early psychological edge and a quick start to the competition, the Cheetahs start their campaign aware that they are already probably standing on the ledge with a huge drop beneath them.

Taking on last year’s two finalists – the Sharks in Bloemfontein on Saturday and then the defending champions Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend – is not the kindest of draws for the Cheetahs, who will be keeping an eye on the progress of the Kings lest they get caught up in the horror of promotion/relegation at the end of the season.

And the Sharks are obviously over the “bogey side” phenomenon, having beaten the Cheetahs in their last four encounters.

It will be a massive blow to the Cheetahs’ confidence if they lose at home hours before flying to New Zealand, but it is a very real possibility given the depth, experience and quality that the Sharks will be bringing to Bloemfontein.

And it does not help the home side’s cause that the one area of improvement the Sharks are focusing on is starting the competition well, after they lost four of their first seven matches last year, which came back to haunt them in the end as they had to travel for all their playoff games.

The Cheetahs backline is a dangerous one, however, with Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn and Raymond Rhule all players that should be on the radar of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. Johan Goosen is back at flyhalf to direct the show, while scrumhalf Piet van Zyl is one of the most improved players in South African rugby.

The Sharks backline is blessed with current Springboks though in JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Pat Lambie and Lwazi Mvovo, while Louis Ludik and Paul Jordaan are great talents.

The Sharks loose trio is regarded as one of the best in the competition and will play a key role as defenders and stiflers of the quick ball that makes the creative Cheetahs so threatening.

Veteran Lions lock Franco van der Merwe makes his debut as a Shark in the number five jersey alongside Anton Bresler, who emerged as one of the country’s most promising second-rowers in last year’s Currie Cup.

Jannie du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira are as formidable a pair of props as their journeymen Cheetahs counterparts, Trevor Nyakane and Lourens Adriaanse, could hope to come up against.

Coenie Oosthuizen is on the bench for the Cheetahs but, as one of just four Springboks against the 14 in the Sharks’ squad, not even he can provide enough firepower to avoid the home side being rank underdogs.

Other fixtures

Friday: Highlanders v Chiefs (Dunedin); Rebels v Brumbies (Melbourne).

Saturday: Hurricanes v Blues (Wellington); Reds v Waratahs (Brisbane).

South African teams

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morné Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Morné Mellett. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouché, Francois Venter.

Stormers: Jaco Taute, Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, Pat Cilliers, Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Frans Malherbe, Don Armand, Nizaam Carr, Dewaldt Duvenage, Gerhard van den Heever, Joe Pietersen.

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller, Willie le Roux, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule, Johan Goosen, Piet van Zyl, Philip van der Walt, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Viljoen, Francois Uys, Lood de Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen, Waltie Vermeulen, Boom Prinsloo, Sarel Pretorius, Elgar Watts, Ryno Benjamin.

Sharks: Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen, Paul Jordaan, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Marcell Coetzee, Jacques Botes, Franco van der Merwe, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Craig Burden, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Wiehahn Herbst, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod, Meyer Bosman, Odwa Ndungane.

Southern Kings: SP Marais, Sergeal Petersen, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Marcello Sampson, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Luke Watson, Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez, Steven Sykes, David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: Edgar Marutlulle, Jaco Engels, Daniel Adongo, Jacques Engelbrecht, Johan Herbst, George Whitehead, Hadleigh Parkes.

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South Africa saw off Argentina 27-6 at Newlands on Saturday, but the Springboks praised the Pumas for making a solid debut in the Rugby Championship.

“Argentina belong in this company and they will be tough to beat. Today was a stepping stone for them,” Springbok captain Jean de Villiers told a news conference after his team had outscored the Pumas by three tries to nil, but had only scored seven points in the second half.

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer said the other teams in the southern hemisphere tournament – New Zealand and Australia – should not underestimate newcomers Argentina.

“Full credit to them. They were right on the advantage line. People underestimate Argentina and they play great rugby, they are going to do well in the tournament. Those 15 opponents in blue made it impossible for us to get four tries and the bonus point,” Meyer said.

The Argentina captain and coach were mindful of the fact that they are going to need to improve if they are to beat one of the southern hemisphere giants in the Rugby Championship, and they were both disappointed by the Pumas’ error count at Newlands.

“For us, it is difficult to come to play the Springboks, but our mistakes gave them scoring opportunities. We made too many penalties in the fir^st half and some balls were lost which South Africa turned to points. And it was difficult to leave our own part of the field.

“We didn’t do so well, but being our first game, we are happy with the performance. We need to improve a lot of things, but the players gave 100% and that is what we had wanted,” coach Santiago Phelan said.

“It was a good first step, we honestly realised how intense this type of rugby is. We can look at ourselves proudly as we gave everything, it was very intense.

“Today was a good step and we are proud to be in this tournament. Five more games and if we use them and keep on giving everything, if we improve, then we will be happy,” captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe said.

The Pumas were particularly good at the rucks on Saturday and the Springboks struggled to gain continuity from their front-foot ball thanks to the determination of the visitors.

“Our kicking game was better than against England and we got in the right areas of the field, but at the breakdown we didn’t get the recycling we wanted,” Meyer said. “We missed Bismarck du Plessis – he is the leader of the pack. We need to be more physical in the breakdown.”

The physical and combative Du Plessis, the form hooker in SuperRugby, left the field after just four minutes with a knee injury.

Both Meyer and De Villiers praised the character of flyhalf Morne Steyn, whose response to the harsh criticism he received after the England series was a faultless performance with the boot and a key hand in two of the Springboks’ three tries.

South Africa used their trademark forward charges to douse a determined Argentina debut and win their Rugby Championship match 27-6 (half-time 20-6) at Newlands on Saturday.

The Springbok pack did not yield in defence against the massive Argentina forwards and their strong ball-carriers won enough momentum for them to dominate both territory and possession.

Flyhalf Morne Steyn enjoyed a marvellous return to form as he steered South Africa to victory, his influence ranging from faultless goal-kicking that brought him three conversions and two penalties, to precise field-kicking that set up wing Bryan Habana’s try and slick handling that led to fullback Zane Kirchner’s opening try.

The Springboks also had a first-half try from flank Marcell Coetzee and, given their convincing lead at half-time, they will be disappointed that they did not claim a bonus point from the match for scoring four tries.

Argentina’s points came from two penalties by flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez, but they could not capitalise on plenty of possession from turnovers, and struggled to escape from their own territory when under pressure in their first match in the tournament that includes the top three countries in the IRB rankings in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Two incisive attacks down the left and right flanks by wings Habana and Lwazi Mvovo set up an early penalty for the Springboks by Steyn, but the home side were rocked at the same time by the loss of their star hooker, Bismarck du Plessis, with a knee injury. But his replacement, 26-year-old Adriaan Strauss, held his own on his 13th appearance at test level.

Argentina then held on to the ball well, but they could not make headway against the steely Springbok defence at close quarters, forcing Hernandez to launch a pinpoint up-and-under. Kirchner initially claimed the ball, but centre Santiago Fernandez ripped it off the fullback, who then played the ball while lying on the ground, gifting Hernandez a penalty to level the scores at 3-3 after 14 minutes.

But the Pumas failed to control the kickoff, giving South Africa a scrum in their 22. The Springboks were awarded a free kick after an early engagement by Argentina and Steyn drifted away from his marker before passing to Kirchner, who was cutting inside and stepped past two tacklers to score.

Steyn’s sweetly-struck conversion made it 10-3 to the hosts and Argentina, who fell foul of referee Steve Walsh’s whistle in the first half due to their ill-discipline, then gifted another three points to the prolific flyhalf after Sharks wing Mvovo was tackled in the air while taking a high ball, leading to a lineout in Pumas territory, at which they were trapped offsides.

Argentina continued to concede penalties and South Africa used rolling mauls to good effect before one of them brought a try as Coetzee broke blind and charged over the line.

Steyn’s convincing form with the boot continued as he kicked the touchline conversion to give the Springboks control with a 20-3 lead.

Hernandez kicked a penalty before the break and closed the gap to 20-6 after Strauss rushed up too enthusiastically and was caught offsides.

But any hopes Argentina had of getting back in the game were dashed when Hernandez (2) and centre Marcelo Bosch missed three penalties between them in the opening six minutes of the second half.

The scare served to reinvigorate the Springboks as they piled on the pressure, pinning the Pumas in their own half.

A knock-on by wing Gonzalo Camacho gave South Africa a scrum in the Argentina 22, which the visitors collapsed. The Springboks set the lineout and a rolling maul, before Steyn launched a crossfield kick to Habana on the right wing, who leapt high to claim the ball and plunge over the tryline.

Steyn again converted from the touchline, but their hopes of claiming a fourth try and the bonus point in the last 23 minutes were dashed by Argentina’s ability to steal turnovers and some unforced errors on their own behalf.

The debutants had left no one in the 39 000-strong crowd in any doubt about their passion, but their lack of attacking weapons meant they never really threatened the Springboks.

Scorers

South Africa – Tries: Zane Kirchner, Marcell Coetzee, Bryan Habana. Conversions: Morne Steyn (3). Penalties: M. Steyn (2).

Argentina – Penalties: Juan Martin Hernandez (2).