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
20 Feb 2013, 17:00 pm
interesting to see how Deysel has seemingly lost favor…
20 Feb 2013, 17:06 pm
Gonna be a cracker! Go Sharks!!!!!!!!
20 Feb 2013, 17:07 pm
@grant10-1: The Sharks aren’t a bunch of girls that will go throw a tantrum and cry in the loo for 3 hours messing up his mascara like Jean De Villiers would if he wasn’t picked in the starting line up.
Deysel knows he will get his chance to run on.
20 Feb 2013, 17:10 pm
And when he does the human wrecking ball will
be menacing!
20 Feb 2013, 17:17 pm
@grant10-1: deysel is a sicknote!
20 Feb 2013, 17:23 pm
@FawltyRich-4: And a very valuable player to come on with 10 minutes left when the oppositions bodies are tired and sore. Trust me, the idea of tackling someone like Deysel becomes daunting when he comes on fresh and you have been on a rugby field for 70 minutes.
20 Feb 2013, 17:25 pm
@Transformation-5: Deysel is injury prone. That much is obvious. Perhaps he is carrying an injury into this game – hence him being on the bench. Sharks are in a precarious position with loose forwards – most likely they are just being cautious.
20 Feb 2013, 17:27 pm
Deysel should go to Cheetahs or Kings serious no7 shirt in waiting for him. Dont bother sitting on Sharks bench behind Botes the journeyman.
Same with Tim Whitehead… Come back to Province once JDV is done fit in nicely at 12/13 with De Jongh and then De Allende and Brache to cover…
Off topic: JP Du Plessis need time for Stormers, hes a big future player
20 Feb 2013, 17:32 pm
@Dusky-3: Uncalled for? What’s up your ***?
Well I’m stuck in a boring lecture so here goes my long analysis.
Good side. Sharks have always been my 2nd favourite side, but I’m not sold on Frans Steyn, haven’t been for awhile. My main concern is that he’s just incredibly selfish and Pieterson needs the ball as much as possible.
That said he was phenomenal in the WC so maybe he’ll shut me up. Glad they’re starting Reinarch as well, McCloed is solid but will never be more than that.
Deysel is so bloody average, most predictable rugby player ever. Botes also just a journeyman but at least he has a lot of heart… What about that Mthembu guy in the meantime? Looked mean with ball in hand with good skills. Guess they wanted experience.
Yeah without Bissy and Alberts the strike runners are definitely lacking for me.
Great backline, great frontrow (Burden will do well) and Bresler and van der Merwe are solid workers with the latter good in the lineouts and paired with Kankow they should do well.
Tjarks by 10.
20 Feb 2013, 17:33 pm
@Rhys7-8: Whitehead is injured, the Sharks have done well for him (although it pain me to admit it).
Deysel is **** man, he runs over the odd teenager in the Currie Cup and people get excited. NO VARIATION in his play what-so-ever.
20 Feb 2013, 17:38 pm
@Bagel-9: Uncalled for ? Are you that arrogant that you believe you have read all interactions between myself and someone else on here ?
Frans Steyn will do just fine. He was part of the reason for the revival of the Sharks in their path to last years Super 15 final. His stability and ability to stay on his feet for that one extra split second in a tackle makes him a dangerous option with Jordaan next to him. Watch this centre combination this year. Big things coming.
The reason Deysel is on the bench is so obvious, but I will leave that up to you rugby geniuses to figure out.
20 Feb 2013, 17:39 pm
@Rhys7-8: JP Du Plessis ?
20 Feb 2013, 17:41 pm
@Rhys7-8: How much time did Tim Whitehead spend sitting on the bench for the Sharks last season compared to WP/Stormers the season before huh ? You are delusional.
Tim is good at the Sharks. I am sure he is intelligent enough to see that for himself. Out of all the backline players WP have leaked over the last few seasons, Whitehead has probably been the best.
20 Feb 2013, 17:51 pm
@Rhys7-8: If you are talking about Jean-Luc Du Plessis (Carel Du Plessis son), he is going to the Sharks academy.
Took one look at the Stormers tendencies to sign big ticket, established Springboks like Bryan Habana and Jacques Fourie and decided he was off to a union that develops players from an earlier point in their professional rugby careers.
20 Feb 2013, 17:56 pm
Many solid options at centre for the Boks all of a sudden with a bunch of possibles -
De Villiers (not a favourite of mine but an option at 13 nonetheless), De Jongh,
Frans Steyn, Jacques Fourie, Paul Jordaan, Serfontein,
of the possibles for the future:
De Allende, Brache, Whitehead, Robert Ebersohn, Johann Sadie (if he ever comes back), Lionel Mapoe, Alwynn Hollenbach, Francois Venter
Sum total of 14 decent centres – in my opinion – from nothing back to well s tocked in a year. awesome
20 Feb 2013, 18:02 pm
yeah jp du plessis is the future!
20 Feb 2013, 18:22 pm
havent seen him in action but seems he is highly regarded
20 Feb 2013, 18:32 pm
14 Dusky – it’s JP the centre; not Carel’s son. As far as I know JP is injured
20 Feb 2013, 19:20 pm
Jean Deysel, Tim Whitehead, Wandile Mjekevu and Lubabalo Mthembu would be most welcome in PE.
20 Feb 2013, 19:46 pm
The Cheetahs will have at least a 50% chance to beat this team in Bloemfontein. They are usually at their most dangerous early in the season before injuries take it’s toll (not sufficient depth) and before the relatively “stronger” teams have a change to properly settle into their structures.
Cheetahs by 4-8.
20 Feb 2013, 20:00 pm
Frans Steyn wrong choice as cappie. He’s been average since his return – handing him the burden of captaincy won’t do him any favours.
20 Feb 2013, 21:41 pm
@Robzim-20: Cheetahs are a very dangerous side partly because they are so unpredictable. On a 50% chance, I would tend to agree with you especially with the Sharks history in Bloemfontein but I do think it depends on some other factors as well.
Realistically I dont think punters would disagree that the Sharks will be favourites. I hope the Sharks aren’t overconfident going into this game and I really doubt that. They have learned their lesson through the years when it comes to the Cheetahs. This is a tough outing. Tougher for the Sharks than Newlands obviously.
My call is that this game might turn out to be a bit ugly (sort of similar to the Sharks opener last year against the Bulls at Loftus) but that they have the overall quality available to scrape a win over the Cheetahs. Could be a close game but I would go with the Sharks to edge it by 5 to 7.
20 Feb 2013, 21:42 pm
@W.P-21: Frans Steyn when he is average is about 10 times better than Jean De Villiers when he is in top form. I also think he will make a better captain than cry baby.
20 Feb 2013, 21:49 pm
@Robzim-20: Remember that even with the Sharks playing kak poor last year, the Bulls at Loftus and Stormers at Newlands had to maar pull out all the stops to beat them.
If the Sharks can play at an average to their potential form and they can keep their head in it – they will win this game.
This is a much better Sharks team than started last year. I know there are only a few additions – but they are in positions that the Sharks sorely needed. A decent centre and a decent lock could make the difference they need. The Sharks won hardly any lineouts at the opener at Loftus last year, and the Bulls still just squeaked a win.
20 Feb 2013, 22:47 pm
Dusky youre starting to piss me off.
Jean de Villiers has been a huge servant to South African rugby over the past decade. Countless tries and tackles.
Francois Steyn is a Shark which is obviously why your face is so far up his behind.
Stop insulting the current bok players. I am first to say JDV shouldnt start at 12 ahead of Steyn but hes a very good leader and that was proved last year.
Also i have seen Frans steyn moan and winge many more times than JDV.
As a fan of both Steyn and De Villiers I like to look at the positives both bring to the game and the bok team.
Obviously you chose to focus on your Sharks team because you believe Tim Whitehead is the best backline player to leave WP over the last fee years. May I remind you that JJ Engelbrecht, Jaque Fourie, Johan Sadie, Danie Poolman, Morgan Newman, Paul Bosch, Rayno Benjamin & Demetri Ketrakillis are all backline players to leave WP over the past few years.
P.s if you know so much about bok rugby and its provincial franchises. You should know who JP Du Plessis is
20 Feb 2013, 22:59 pm
Rhys leave poor Dusky alone. There’s no cure for mad cow. Frans Steyn farked off to France when he couldn’t get his way here……….so who’s the real cry baby? Boo hoo! He didn’t want to play for the Boks with PDV as coach either so where is his loyalty to the Boks? I certainly hope he looks after the Sharks better than he does his overgrown figure. Rugby lovers outside SA don’t rate Steyn as highly as they do here. I tend to agree with them out there!
20 Feb 2013, 23:03 pm
@Dusky-3: exactly
20 Feb 2013, 23:12 pm
@Rhys7-25: Should I be worried if you are getting pissed off ? Get pissed off all you like.
Ok – perhaps I should expand. Of the YOUNG centers to have departed WP, it would appear that Whitehead has performed the best at his new province. Would you agree with that ?
Jacques Fourie is one of the best centers the Springboks have ever had but it was not him I was referring to. He was also one of the best backline players to leave the Lions – so nothing specific to WP there. Sadie, JJ Engelbrecht = very average, Poolman = not too bad, Newman, Bosch and Benjamin = please, are you making a joke ?
And its Demetri Catrakilis. Is JP du Plessis a Springbok ? Why would my knowledge or apparent lack thereof make me aware of who JP Du Plessis is ? Were you writing that post through a stream of tears or something ? I know how sensitive you WP supporters are.
I mean we have seen old cry baby De Villiers sob it out a few times now. He should get a sponsorship through Kleenex.
20 Feb 2013, 23:14 pm
@W.P-26: I dont know, I haven’t seen him crying like a little nursery school girl yet like Jeantjie after the Super 15 semi-final last year.
Shame, I am glad Jean was part of a WP setup that won a real trophy for once last year. I nearly thought he would retire without lifting a trophy in his provincial colors. That would have been really sad and a bit pathetic.
20 Feb 2013, 23:17 pm
@W.P-26: ‘Figure’………..really ?
Are you a pillow biter ? I know 70% of men in the Cape are but just wanted to check.
Are you a girl ?
20 Feb 2013, 23:27 pm
@Rhys7-25: Dusky is a special needs Troll. Treat his posts with the respect they deserve.
20 Feb 2013, 23:37 pm
@Bagel-10:
With the exception of the Cheetahs back row last year and Louw for the Springboks, when has there ever been variation in South African loose forwards? Deysel is a good player, but like a few have said he’s unfortunately made of glass. I don’t like Odwa and Botes being there, poor decisions in my opinion.
20 Feb 2013, 23:43 pm
@stormer in a teacup-31: You are a drol man
21 Feb 2013, 00:39 am
I see certain Stormershits are already praying for a Sharks loss
21 Feb 2013, 00:39 am
Typical.
21 Feb 2013, 00:40 am
Go Cheetahs fck these pretty pretenders sideways. The EP / FS / GP foreign legionaire wannabes. Show them the boere they stole aren’t enough to saddle up along with the couple softie souties from bananarama land that egte boere still got egte sout van die arde in their egte boere veins.
21 Feb 2013, 00:47 am
Another Stormershit predictably praying for a Sharks loss.
Like flies to s.hit.
21 Feb 2013, 00:56 am
Cheetahs gonna fck you pisswilly Sharkishits to kingdom come, namby pamby little softy soapy souties.
gonna be sweet watching the real home bred boys fck the feeble rip off mercenaries out their last bastion brekery
21 Feb 2013, 01:01 am
Of the bloggers on here you come closest to Keo in your rare predicting abilities.
I’d be more worried if you said the Sharks were going to win.
Don’t think you have backed the Sharks to ever win before…. you hate and fear them too much. Typical Stormershit
21 Feb 2013, 01:08 am
Skop, chill
We want the Sharks to do well, the better they do the more the supporters’ heads swell and the bigger their mouths get, ok sorry, that ship already seems to have sailed, but anyway, when the final choke comes it’s all the more sweeter for us.
21 Feb 2013, 01:09 am
Who gotta fear a bunch of pisswilly little over bloated feeble arrogant fuckwit arseholes lIkes of feeble fuckwit bought In merchandise mercenaries. Not a f’ng chance. Pathetic bunch of choking creeps. You better start praying hard that Cheetahs don’t fck your S15 campaign to smithereens first game out the blocks you stupid imbecilic Sharkishit moronic little dunce.
21 Feb 2013, 01:11 am
@nortierd-40: you mean like choking in 2 consecutive home semi finals?
How was that epic table topping choke in CT in the semis last year for you?
21 Feb 2013, 01:12 am
@skopdiekan-41: Sharks beat your Stormershits 7 out of 10 of the last super games…… that ‘s WHO you gotta fear
Admit it, you are used tlo losing to the Sharks.
21 Feb 2013, 01:14 am
@ShaunB-42:
Yes we lost, but at least we have trophies for 2012
How did that work out for you, having nothing to show for all the brilliance you guys proclaim?
I understand it must hurt, but don’t worry, someday you might get to have a cup in Durban again.
Keep the faith
21 Feb 2013, 01:19 am
@ShaunB-42:
And as an aside Shaun, the odds are very good that I will predict the Sharks next week on Superbru, so if I do, it won’t upset me to much if you guys win.
But as I said, the better you do the better the fall at the final hurdle
21 Feb 2013, 01:19 am
@nortierd-44: Sharks only have to go back 2 years to their last trophy.
Not like your recent 11 year drought
You will be lucky to win another in 11 years
21 Feb 2013, 01:23 am
@ShaunB-46:
Yes, CC, but you forget the 12 years it took you before you won it from the ’90′s to the 00′s. Short term memory loss.
We count the 2011 conference and under 21 etc.
You discount the conference, but if you win it this year, it will be brought up in 2014, believe me, it will.
It only counts for nothing if you don’t have it
Then we can also bring up the little matter of having won it 33 times to your 6, but I won’t, it will seem petty and vindictive.
Regarding Super Rugby, we are equally ****, no two ways about it, the record speaks for itself, no wins for either side
21 Feb 2013, 01:25 am
Bwahahahahaha counting the conference!
21 Feb 2013, 01:26 am
Lol don’t stop there what about the Plascon Cup last year?
21 Feb 2013, 01:30 am
@ShaunB-48:
Once your teams wins the conference, then you can have bragging rights.
Don’t be jealous because your team is inconsistent during the season.
You are misdirecting your anger, you should write scathing letters to the Sharks Rugby Board imploring them to pull their finger because they are making the spectators look foolish.
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.
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