Eastern Province Kings rugby discussion thread

[DJ...]

Shocker of a final call by the ref. There was no penalty in that closing minute and he was blinded by his position as well. Not sure how he made that call.

Well done to the lions though. The right team is back up in S15...

 

[SlowInternet]

My team is back in Super 15 but they did not play well at all. Kings really played well tonight and I take my hat off to them.

 

[sand_man]

Shocker of a final call by the ref. There was no penalty in that closing minute and he was blinded by his position as well. Not sure how he made that call.

Well done to the lions though. The right team is back up in S15...

There were a number of 50/50's. That's the nature of the sport. Numerous occasions were a call for one team or the other could be viewed as fair. Breakdowns are a bit of a lottery, sucks but so be it. There was the Lions 14 that knocked that kickoff for example, ref said went backwards, touch judge said forwards. Just one example of many.

 

[BeVonk!]

I was hoping for a much better display by the Lions but they were their own biggest enemies. The players were too stressed-out and panicked. Jantjies was a stress-ball that made too many mistakes. At some point he looked completely out of his depth. These Lions need a miracle to be any better than before in SR. The players have the heart, but it is as if SR is just a step too high for many. What to do between now and Feb 2014? What can they actually afford to do? No star players are standing queue to join the squad. Money is scarce, especially after severe losses from sitting out this year. Will it again be all guts and no glory?

We have a "winner" from the promo/relegation games but I do not believe we have a solution at all. Leaving the Kings out is not a solution.

 

[bwana]

While I can't vouch for it's authenticity I figured I'd post it with the hopes that it's bogus. They reference News24 but I cant find anything about it there.

***** BREAKING NEWS***** Immediate law suit has been file following The Kings apparent exit from Super rugby in 2014 - The Southern Kings president Cheeky Watson immediately filed for a case to be heard within the next week, Due to the Kings being forced out of Super rugby. The Southern Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons confirmed this within hours of the win against The Lions in yesterdays win in Johannesburg. Alan Solomons said post match "This is just an on going issue of hatred and racial prejudice toward the Eastern cape and for Eastern Province rugby on a whole" he then went on to say that "The Kings have shown more pride and proven that in 2013 The kings have done more and achieved more than what any Lions or team from The Lions region could have done" Cheeky Watson also confirmed that this is, and has been a rugby joke that The Kings have been set up and hung out to dry, By being expected to play 2 back to back games against The Lions after having played such a long and tiring Super rugby season. Where Cheeky Watson went on to mention that The Lions have been in practice mode all year and playing such teams which wouldn't pull a crowd even if the gate entry was free. With the case expected to be heard first thing Monday morning for an eventual date to be set down later in the forth-night to have the case reviewed so The Kings will remain in the Super Xv in 2014. Cheeky Watson said "If The Lions want to play super rugby, they should have proven that in the last 18 years, instead of being the whipping boys of Super rugby" News24

https://www.facebook.com/Southern.Hemisphere.Rugby

My first thought was that the grammar is just too bad to be credible and now after thinking about it more is it even possible to file "for a case to be heard" on a Sunday?

 

[Fulcrum29]

While I can't vouch for it's authenticity I figured I'd post it with the hopes that it's bogus. They reference News24 but I cant find anything about it there.

https://www.facebook.com/Southern.Hemisphere.Rugby

My first thought was that the grammar is just too bad to be credible and now after thinking about it more is it even possible to file "for a case to be heard" on a Sunday?

Don’t think this is a smart move should it be true, this is challenging an agreement which gave advantage to the Eastern Province Rugby Union to participate within the Super Rugby structure. The supporters should know the proper structure and that this is bound down to club level as per according to our rules and regulations. Speaking about apparent exit, uhm, they lost the relegation match within an agreed standing. Should this not be true, which I think it is, they should never bring race into this, and politics should be play here within sport.

 

[bwana]

Don’t think this is a smart move should it be true, this is challenging an agreement which gave advantage to the Eastern Province Rugby Union to participate within the Super Rugby structure. The supporters should know the proper structure and that this is bound down to club level as per according to our rules and regulations. Speaking about apparent exit, uhm, they lost the relegation match within an agreed standing. Should this not be true, which I think it is, they should never bring race into this, and politics should be play here within sport.

Like I said - I don't really believe it but I thought it would make an interesting talking point.

Maybe someone can explain why they play this [-]stupid[/-] aggregate scoring system instead of a simple best out of three?

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

This is just an on going issue of hatred and racial prejudice

And people want this clown taken seriously? Right.

 

[bwana]

And people want this clown taken seriously? Right.

Just keep in mind the questionable credibility of the "article" while you're lambasting Watson.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

That is pure Cheeky just that line alone. I bet the Kings would have a less torrid time if he didn't keep shoving his foot in it and making it political at every turn.

 

[BeVonk!]

bwana, I want to believe it is a bogus article. The grammar may be bad because the person who posted it may have inside info but not the platform to get it out properly. But let's hope it is nonsense.

That said, I do believe this whole thing is a farce that should never have happened this way. The Kings and Lions are losers in this no matter how one tries to twist and turn this thing. No team can work with one season only. Teams cannot survive without sponsorships and the sponsors will only go where they have guarantees.

SARU is to blame. But sadly it is now a Lions vs Kings debacle (very convenient for SARU). The Lions and Kings are both treated like street children who must fight one another for food and handouts. This works for the other large unions who want us to remain at the bottom to supply them with players. As I mentioned before, I wish the two organisations could find a way to work together until 2016. Their cultures are very similar. But then SARU must make the money work for all involved ... and they wont because the other greedy paws wont allow it.

 

[MickeyD]

bwana, I want to believe it is a bogus article. The grammar may be bad because the person who posted it may have inside info but not the platform to get it out properly. But let's hope it is nonsense.

That said, I do believe this whole thing is a farce that should never have happened this way. The Kings and Lions are losers in this no matter how one tries to twist and turn this thing. No team can work with one season only. Teams cannot survive without sponsorships and the sponsors will only go where they have guarantees.

SARU is to blame. But sadly it is now a Lions vs Kings debacle (very convenient for SARU). The Lions and Kings are both treated like street children who must fight one another for food and handouts. This works for the other large unions who want us to remain at the bottom to supply them with players. As I mentioned before, I wish the two organisations could find a way to work together until 2016. Their cultures are very similar. But then SARU must make the money work for all involved ... and they wont because the other greedy paws wont allow it.

QFT

Money.

Is all.

 

[BeVonk!]

If I was Kevin De Klerk I would go see Cheeky and work out a plan together to bring SARU to its knees.

 

[bwana]

bwana, I want to believe it is a bogus article. The grammar may be bad because the person who posted it may have inside info but not the platform to get it out properly. But let's hope it is nonsense.

Possibly but they credit news24 at the bottom at this would definitely be on their site, right?

That said, I do believe this whole thing is a farce that should never have happened this way. The Kings and Lions are losers in this no matter how one tries to twist and turn this thing. No team can work with one season only. Teams cannot survive without sponsorships and the sponsors will only go where they have guarantees.

SARU is to blame. But sadly it is now a Lions vs Kings debacle (very convenient for SARU). The Lions and Kings are both treated like street children who must fight one another for food and handouts. This works for the other large unions who want us to remain at the bottom to supply them with players. As I mentioned before, I wish the two organisations could find a way to work together until 2016. Their cultures are very similar. But then SARU must make the money work for all involved ... and they wont because the other greedy paws wont allow it.

SARU screwed both teams - I was really disappointed when they didn't send someone along to the Kings opening match.

My hope now is that the kings haven't already haemorrhaged too much talent so that they can't claw their way into the Currie Cup. That's really the best hope they have even if it's under the guise of the EP Kings.

 

[BeVonk!]

bwana, the players will jump ship when the Big Boys come knocking with their fat bank balances. The teams with limited financial resources cannot compete with them. The Bulls, for example, has talent locked up in lower ranked teams that other teams can do wonders with. Free State is doing something right at present but they have been in the same boat than the Kings and Lions for most of their existence. The Lions had a good decade under Luyt, but that was about it. EP has always been a gold mine for poachers.

Someone will have to take the fight to SARU. And it will have to be more than just the Kings. The Lions will more than likely not get out of the very deep hole they are in so they may just as well join the fight. Who wants to see another series of Kings vs Lions promo/relegation matches in 2014? Not me. Something must change before then.

 

[bwana]

bwana, the players will jump ship when the Big Boys come knocking with their fat bank balances. The teams with limited financial resources cannot compete with them. The Bulls, for example, has talent locked up in lower ranked teams that other teams can do wonders with. Free State is doing something right at present but they have been in the same boat than the Kings and Lions for most of their existence. The Lions had a good decade under Luyt, but that was about it. EP has always been a gold mine for poachers.

Someone will have to take the fight to SARU. And it will have to be more than just the Kings. The Lions will more than likely not get out of the very deep hole they are in so they may just as well join the fight. Who wants to see another series of Kings vs Lions promo/relegation matches in 2014? Not me. Something must change before then.

We've already lost four players to the Bulls and some overseas but my hope is that they'll play out this season for the EP Kings and get us out of the First Division.

 

[APoc184]

It is totally bull****. Purely on the fact that Solly never said anything about racial hatred towards the EC or anything about pride... I was there after the match and have the complete recording of the post match presser. Just listened to it again to make 100% sure.

Unless a journalist approached him on the way to the team bus (which I doubt happened because we all stayed for the Lions coaches after Solly and Matt Sexton left), it was never said.

I can confirm Solly was pissed off after the game but he only called for SARU to make sure the EP Kings get a spot in next year's Premier Division Currie Cup. He did state that poor refereeing in the first match cost the Kings their SuperRugby status and that it was a disgrace.

That's it.

EDIT: He also didn't say anything about the Kings achieving more than the Lions. In fact he didn't even once mention the Lions in the post match presser.

 

[bwana]

It is totally bull****. Purely on the fact that Solly never said anything about racial hatred towards the EC or anything about pride... I was there after the match and have the complete recording of the post match presser. Just listened to it again to make 100% sure.

Unless a journalist approached him on the way to the team bus (which I doubt happened because we all stayed for the Lions coaches after Solly and Matt Sexton left), it was never said.

I can confirm Solly was pissed off after the game but he only called for SARU to make sure the EP Kings get a spot in next year's Premier Division Currie Cup. He did state that poor refereeing in the first match cost the Kings their SuperRugby status and that it was a disgrace.

That's it.

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[APoc184]

I will upload the recording to Dropbox and share it for you all.

Like I said. Unless a journalist approached them after the post match presser it never happened.

 

[APoc184]

Here you go. Recorded with my phone.

Apologies for quality(background noise) . You'll have to turn up the volume.

http://db.tt/wQiNwGCb