Kings mix it up

The Southern Kings have made several changes to their team for their second match on tour, against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.

As this website reported earlier this week the team's two most experienced players - centre Andries Strauss and lock Steven Sykes - return from injury to take over the leadership.

Strauss, who replaces New Zealander Hadleigh Parkes in the No.12 jersey, will take over the captaincy.

Sykes, in for Kenyan Daniel Adongo in the second row, will be the vice-captain.

In the only other change to the starting XV Devin Oosthuizen is in at flank in place of Cornell du Preez.

On the bench Hannes Franklin returns from injury and will take the place of Edgar Marutlulle as the replacement hooker, Grant Kemp provides front row cover in place of Jaco Engels, while Adongo and Parkes drop down to the bench.

Southern Kings: 15 George Whitehead , 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Devin Oosthuizen, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Grant Kemp, 18 Rynier Bernardo, 19 Daniel Adongo, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Waylon Murray, 22 Hadleigh Parkes.

Date: Saturday, March 30

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Kick-off: 16.35 (5.35 SA time; 3.35 GMT)

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)