Watson back for struggling Southern Kings

May 7, 2013 - 6:46 PM Former Springbok Luke Watson has been restored as flanker and captain of the Southern Kings side to face the Highlanders in a bottom-of-the-table Super Rugby match at Port Elizabeth.

Watson says the Kings are determined to bounce back from a humiliating 72-10 home loss to the NSW Waratahs last weekend against the Highlanders, who enjoyed their first win of the season, at home to the Sharks.

"We knew from the beginning of the season that we would be underdogs for every game and last week Goliath won," Watson said.

"It was not the performance we wanted, but the commitment of the team has been our strongest attribute and we will be giving a big commitment again on Saturday."

The Highlanders remain in last place but are just one point behind the Kings, who have won two of 10 games in their inaugural season.

The hosts will be without injured loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht and wing Sergeal Petersen, who has joined the South Africa under-20 squad.

They haven't yet named a starting tighthead prop, nor a prop reserve while they assess a back injury to Kevin Buys.

Southern Kings: George Whitehead, Marcello Sampson, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Siyanda Grey, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Cornell du Preez, Luke Watson (capt), Wimpie van der Walt, David Bulbring, Steven Sykes, TBA, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira. Reserves: Virgile Lacombe, TBA, Daniel Adongo, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, Shane Gates, SP Marais

Source: AAP