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Kanko's time to shine
Tuesday, November 10
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For one man in particular Friday night's Test between the Springboks and France could be a make-or-break affair: Ryan Kankowski.
When the Sharks number eight burst onto the rugby scene with his Sevens skills and elusive turn of pace he looked every inch a Springbok player destined for an international future.
Unfortunately for Kankowski - like so many other young South African rugby stars - the excitement and hype as people clamoured for his inclusion in the Springbok side quickly outstripped the merits of his selection. He also had to contend with another enormous talent staking his claim for the number eight jersey in Pierre Spies.
Rugby people in South Africa - be it fans, players or coaches - are often guilty of hailing players as the finished article when they first burst onto the domestic scene rather than patiently assessing a player, identifying his weaknesses and waiting for those to be corrected or overcome before calling for his selection in the Springbok side.
After the World Cup where Danie Rossouw toiled manfully at number eight with Spies out injured and a new coach at the helm the spot was up for grabs. Both Spies and Kankowski were young players developing their games and, despite their potential, not quite the finished and rounded article.
Peter de Villiers opted for Spies who had the slight advantage in terms of size and experience and invested in him as his first choice number eight. Kankowski would have to play second fiddle and wait for his chance.
The way in which Spies has developed and adapted to the pressurised role of number eight has been a revelation. He is reliable behind the scrum and has added a dimension to his play in the tight stuff to his pace and powerful running.
Kankowski, on the other hand, has seen his Springbok career cough and splutter as he looks to establish himself. His try-scoring debut in the 34-12 win over Wales at the end of 2007 is still one of only three starts in his nine Test caps. He was carried off on a stretcher in his next start against Italy at Newlands and his only other start was as part of a second string side in the third Test against the British & Irish Lions. He's a distant second to Spies who has cemented himself as the first choice number eight.
While he continues to be a key player for the Sharks where he weighs in with some scintillating link play and breaks from the back of the scrum serious question marks have been raised over his physicality and abiity to get stuck in during the tight games.
The game against France is the big chance he has been waiting for. Peter de Villiers showed his faith in Kankowski by initially selecting him as the replacement for the injured Juan Smith on the blindside flank - with Schalk Burger preferred to Heinrich Brussow on the openside. The Cheetahs man was initially packed off to play for the midweek team with Kankowski and Burger making up the loose trio with Pierre Spies. De Villiers has spoken before of Kankowski as a special talent despite some of the shortcomings to his game - it seems he is finally ready to gamble on those talents.
Spies' finger injury then opened the door for Kankowski to start in his most natural position at the back of the scrum and granted him the opportunity to play alongside two fetchers in Brussow and Burger. With the two grafters in the side to challenge for the loose ball the stage is set for Kankowski to add his flair from the back of the scrum and to provide the link between the backline and the forwards. It's a tailor made situation for the 23-year-old.
It's not all peaches and cream for the number eight however as the Springbok scrum problems continue to haunt them and the French - traditionally good scrummagers - will have their sights set on disrupting the Springbok pack. Playing behind a retreating pack is no easy task for a number eight and Kankowski will need his wits about him to keep the Boks going forward.
France love an open game with plenty of flair and this slightly more open approach could suit the Sharks flyer. Despite the promise of a flowing game he won't need reminding that the Springbok management will be closely watching his ability to get involved in the rough stuff and his contribution on defence.
All in all it's a great opportunity for Kankowski to put a stuttering two years of international rugby behind him and put the pressure firmly on the incumbent Springboks for a starting berth.
How do you think Kankowski will fair in his biggest Test to date?
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| 26 Jun 10 | Italy |
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kankowki isn't that small and sevens has really helped his all round game tho he isn't that great in the tight exchanges!
provincial coaches as to the Developement of certain players and
certain aspects of certain players game!!!If they all work together on the developement of the players seen as having the talent to become Springboks -like Johnson,Mapoe,Maku,makoena,
Kirchner,De Jong,Viljoen, Heini, Hogaard,Pienaar,Kanko and los more- Then we will have a mixed team selected on MERIT that can do SA proud!!!What happened to he days that a SA A team toured?
Right now England A Sctland,Ireland,Wales A teams play in the
USA every year against the USA and Canada So why cant we get a
SA A team in there as well?????That is how they develope their
players so why cant we??????????????
deysel,vermeulen,botes,vermaak,franco vdm,luzuko vulindlu, vermaak,lebenberg,wian du preez,S.sykes,
His inclusion in the starting 15 ahead of Rossouw and Johnson is a clever move. He is quick and coupled with Schalk and Brussouw, the Boks will be more equipped to close down the perceived defensive weakness in the 10/12 slot.
The down side is that the scrum will be lacking in the weight and strength department. This will put even more pressure on the tight five.
If Kankow is great he'll step up and display his knack for the open play. Let's hope he does exactly that, shows us that his strengths outweigh his weaknesses.
As a sharks fan and a fan of the exciting rugby he plays I'm hoping that he does.... but talk is cheap, time will tell.
The only complete loose forward in SA is Juan Smith I'm afraid, and perhaps Schalk Burger. As for the rest:
Brussouw (still a bit to work on defensive channel)
Spies (Needs to improve tackle count and tends to go missing for large periods of the game)
Deysel (Could improve link up play and all round game)
Overall most our loose forwards either lack tackling technique or reading of the game. That come with time but there is no doubt Potgieter and Deysel will become top players if they keep imrpoving.
Give it your all Kanko, as Spies is running away with the no8 position, and we need backup for him incase....
Spies goes to ground to easily and lacks the will to want do destroy guys on attack and to smash them in a huge tackle.
Kanko HAS got heart, he bumps guys off in the face etc. Kanko has got a bit of animal in him and that is what Spies needs. Spes is too soft and flashy.
BUT, just imagine the 8thman if you could combine Kanko and Spies into 1 person....
hey last time i looked we were ranked no1
Some bloggers here get behind our players and wish them the best (good on you) while some of you sit with your fingers crossed hoping some will fail so you can express your miserable comments on the internet.....
Sometimes we are on par with the British media
We are too blessed!!!
Anyway, P Divvy was going to play both of them in this game with Schalk before spies was injured.
Would have been mighty interesting.
Like all flashy fowards he spends to much time in the backline instead of cleaning out or carying the ball up close. I still prefer him playing from the bench at international level.
Lets be realistic- Would he even come close to the starting 15 if all our loosies are at full strenghth?
SA has so much depth in the loosies and he can't afford to be out of form for one second. We have Spies, Burger, Brossouw, Smith, Alberts, Vermeulen, Johnson, Potgieter, Deysel, Grobelaar, V.d Merwe, Stegman, Botes etc etc.
What is the third choice Dannie doing on the bench?
Have you seen the photo at the top of the page?!
Go Ryannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
I am a bit sad that Spies is injured. He has really upped his tackle count and gets involved more in the ruff and tumble...but, that aside..hopefully Kanko steps up!
Go BOOOOOKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEE
If he had had the chance to grow into the SA side like spies, this convo would be going exactly the other way. I personally think that we should all be super stoked that spies gets injured and we have this kinda talent to run on for him. I'm sure he's going to make a couple of mistakes, but he'll learn from them and the next game come harder..... I say gd luck to him and all the bokke, I love you guys, ur the best and u gonna stay the best.....GO BOKKE!!!!!!
But you saying Spies lacks heart is untrue. and unfounded, he is really getting stuck in these days, thats why we are not seeing the blistering runs we are used to, he's too busy doing the tight work, I believe thats the game plan, if the coach changes that(like the chiefs game) you will see him standing in the line more.. waiting to pounce