Kanko rules for Sharks
20 Feb 2013
RICHARD FERGUSON reports that the Sharks have taken a chance selecting Ryan Kankowski to start against the Cheetahs.
The talented Cobus Reinach has won selection ahead of Springbok scrumhalf Charl McLeod.
The Sharks team to face the Cheetahs has been announced with Kankowski named to start without playing in either of the preseason matches.The seasoned loose-forward has spent the last six months playing in Japan.
Sharks coach John Plumtree opted for Kankowski over Lubabalo Mthembu, who started both warm up matches at the back of the scrum. Mthembu does not feature in the match 22 as Marcell Coetzee plays in the familiar 7 jersey and Jacques Botes is picked ahead of Jean Deysel, who will be among the substitutes.
In the absence of Bismarck du Plessis, Kyle Cooper gets a spot on the bench and Wiehahn Herbst is preferred to Alan Dell to cover the front row. Pieter-Steph du Toit provides lock and loose-forward can cover both the second row as well the flanks while Meyer Bosman covers flyhalf and the centres and Odwa Ndungane completes the 22.
The Sharks: 15. Louis ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Frans Steyn (c), 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Tendai Mtawarira Reserves: 16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19. Jean Deysel, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Meyer Bosman, 22. Odwa Ndungane
65 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
21 Feb 2013, 01:33 am
@ShaunB-49:
Cheers, I’m out for the night.
Dream about Fransie receiving the conference cup at the end of the season.
Picture him holding it aloft and saying it was for the fans.
I heard a song one day where they sing about if you can dream it, then you can do it, so dream hard, maybe it will come true.
21 Feb 2013, 01:34 am
@nortierd-51: cheers
21 Feb 2013, 03:01 am
Poor Sharks still shackled by hasbeens like Bosman and Ndungane.
21 Feb 2013, 08:25 am
Tim Whitehead is way better than Frans Steyn at 12. Whitehead is probably
the best 12 in this country.
21 Feb 2013, 08:55 am
@mabu-54:
I agree very underrated but not sure he is better than Frans at 12 though.
21 Feb 2013, 10:02 am
@mabu-54: Lets agree your rugby knowledge is none existant with a comment like that.
21 Feb 2013, 10:46 am
I’m sure if you entice Frans Steyn with puff pastries and pies, behind the opposition tryline, he’d play like a man possessed and not dish up the average k@k he’s serving now lol
21 Feb 2013, 11:07 am
Will see this year how good is Frans Steyn at center. He was very very good as fullback, but I can’t remember ever seen him have a cracker at 12!
I’ll also watch Jordaan this year, he was outstanding for me last year at 13!
Kankowski was chosen for his leneout ability – was very good at it last year(especially that game against Bulls). Plumtree has still nightmares about lineouts!!!
21 Feb 2013, 11:11 am
I want to see Frans Steyn and Jan Serfontein as centres next to Pat Lambie, even if just once!
21 Feb 2013, 11:14 am
Jordaan is pure class!
21 Feb 2013, 13:39 pm
@RugbyRIP-59: Yes… That could be a farken combo to behold.
21 Feb 2013, 14:03 pm
Glad all the name calling and team bashing seems to have come to an end.. Let’s talk rugby dammit!
Great looking team, hope they are able to gel well and start strong this year. The cheetahs backline looks incredibly dangerous too – these are definitely the two most exciting backlines in the South African conference. Hoping to see some classy moves from both teams.
@ Jonck – you don’t remember seeing Frans play well at 12? I know its a while back, but go watch the highlights from RWC 2007. Frans was incredible at 12, set Fourie up on many an occasion with good offloads and a good eye for a gap. He made his global reputation in that tournament at 12. In my opinion, 12 is his best position.
I also feel the captaincy could bring out the best in him this season.
Pieter Steph Du Toit to make a massive impact off the bench! Sharks forwards will have to dominate if we are to win this.
I agree, a combo with Serfontein would be spectacular. Unfortunately the bulls seem determined not to give him any game time and I feel he is wasted there. If you are good enough, you are old enough. Jordaan at the same age already has a year of currie cup and super rugby experience…. Serfontein has one or 2 currie cup caps. Poor management!!
21 Feb 2013, 14:15 pm
@aleric-62: Well said Aleric, Good post.
Frans Steyn is the best 12 in SA by a country mile, I watched him and Whitehead in the first warm up match together till Whitehead got injured and they were very good, Frans however was outstanding as he got the ball into gaps and also his defense was rock solid.
In the 2nd warm up match Jordaan also combined very well with Steyn and Jordaan scored 2 tries.
21 Feb 2013, 17:00 pm
@aleric-62: Yep the best thing that happened at world cup 2007 for South Africa was Jean De Villiers getting injured. The second best thing that happened was the referee allowing a forward pass allowing France to eliminate the All Blacks in the quarter final. Those two things were the biggest contributors.
In third place was Bryan Habana having the year of his career.
21 Feb 2013, 17:02 pm
@aleric-62: I think the Sharks are watching Serfontein.
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.