Southern Kings coach believes victory over Waratahs could help them avoid Super Rugby axe

THEY have just three wins in two seasons but the Kings believe an upset victory over the Waratahs on Friday would send an compelling message they belong in Super Rugby.

THEY have just three wins in two seasons and their presence in Super Rugby is rued as a politically-driven mistake. Even at home in South Africa.

But despite being targeted for the axe in 2018, the Southern Kings believe an upset victory over the Waratahs on Friday would send an compelling message they belong in Super Rugby.

The Kings take on NSW at Allianz Stadium under the same threat of extinction as Aussie rivals, the Force and the Rebels.

The closure of one club has caused huge drama in Australian rugby but in South Africa the peril is twice the size, with SARU to cut two of its six franchises.

SARU’s elimination review will run to June but the Kings and the Cheetahs are widely seen as the clubs on the chopping block.

The Kings have won just three games in two seasons.

Having seen uncertainty galvanise the Rebels and the Force on-field, NSW coach Daryl Gibson believes pressure makes the Kings a dangerous prospect.

Kings coach Deon Davids told NewsCorp on Wednesday the hovering axe isn’t a primary motivation, he agreed that a victory in Sydney could present a compelling case to stay in Super Rugby.

“Obviously any win sends a good message out, given all the teams in this competition are very good,” Davids said.

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“But I also understand the Waratahs have a very good record in Super Rugby, and very much so at home.

“So it would be fantastic if we could do that.”

The Kings have had a short but tumultuous history in Super Rugby.

Under pressure from the South African government to field a team in the eastern Cape for transformation reasons, SARU brought the Kings into the competition at the expense of the Lions in 2013.

They went back out again in 2014 but SANZAAR agreed to help SARU’s political issues and issue a sixth African licence in an 18-team comp in 2016. Even before the Kings returned, however, the franchise had to taken over by SARU in 2015 after going broke and failing to pay players, who went on strike.

Davids coached the team to two wins and 13 losses last season and their only win in 2017 came against the Sunwolves.

Two of the best players in the world contest a high ball.

The coach said talk of being shut down was a constant reminder for players to keep improving.

“It is something you can’t run away from,” Davids said.

“As I said from the start, it is not something we can control but everyone understands at the end of the day it is going to be up to us in terms of ensuring we do our work to the best of our ability. We believe by doing that, that will guide the calls going forward.”

Albeit from a low base, the Kings are improving in 2017. They only lost by two points to the Sharks in round two (a week before the Sharks thrashed NSW) and by almost toppled the Force in a six-tries-each thriller in Perth.

The incredible future potential of the Kings, says Davids, is all that came after he started the season with 31 new players.

“We did not come from a previous campaign, in Currie Cup or in Super Rugby. The guys I had last year were contracted just for Super Rugby and then they left,” Davids said.

“So we had to start with a brand new team so I am quite happy with the young guys and the inexperienced guys have really learned quickly in a short space of time to be competitive.”

Talent levels on the eastern Cape are immense and should convince SARU to keep the Kings, believes Davids.

“Up to now, in my mind, there are a lot of players that have showed there is enough potential to stress the importance of this franchise,” he said.

“If you look at a lot of these boys playing in this team, they never would have had an opportunity to play at this level if they didn’t have the Kings. Many played at a lower level, not even the Currie Cup. But they have stepped up hugely to this level and that’s proof of the level of talent. I believe with proper structures and systems, and financial sustainability, the franchise can grow to become a very strong one.”

Defence is still a major concern but the Kings have proved themselves to be a lethal attacking force; they’ve scored 11 tries in the last two games and 23 so far this season. Last year they scored 33 in total.

With speedy outside backs like Makazole Mapimpi and Malcolm Jaer, the Kings can excite.

“Attacking wise we have grown a lot and there is a lot of strength with ball in hand,” Davids said.

“From an attacking point of view there are a lot of positives but we want to see the same results in defence.

NSW posted a record 72-10 win over the Kings in their only meeting in 2013 but but Gibson warned his team to not get complacent.

“The Kings are a very, very competitive team and I know they’ll be galvanised by the news that’s swirling around them and the uncertainty they’re facing,” Gibson said.

“It is very similar to the Rebels situation and I am sure they’ll come out and fight and show a real dogged determination that they deserve to be in the competition.

“If we were in that same situation, as a coach you’d be saying the same thing to your team.

“As I said to the team this morning, you have to respect what they can do,” Gibson said.

“They have guys out on the wings who can really hurt you, with a lot of pace. They have guys who are very good on the ball and they have a real determination to play an unstructured style of football. They like those loose situations. They’re a dangerous team. We certainly won’t be taking them lightly.”