bout time botha is in the 22 now jsut move bismark to 8 smit to hooker van der linde to loose head and bj botha to tight head.

Hmm...Hougaard on the bench means Pienaar is still viewed as a 10/15. Also a bit of a tough call to omit Adams from the squad of 26, after the Sarries game?

Hope Wian brings stability to the scrum, and that Beast gets a decent breather. Go Boks!

I made the comment elsewhere, i think PDV and co missed a trick or two here, Italy are the ideal opponents to test new test combinations against, for example the back three of Nokwe, Pietersen and Habana...

Anyway, go Springboks, may your courage go down in legend and your warrior spirit overcome those savage Italians and their esspresso machines and matching smart casual pink lounge shirts...

Why oh why are Jacobs and Kanko still in the starting team?! If they dont have a good game this weekend then i think its time that these okes get dropped for a while...De Jongh and Johnson should be in that starting line up.

Kanko did not have a great game against the Franch, but he deserves another run for sure.

Jacobs tackled harder than anyone on Saturday - while Morne and J Fourie got run through a few times..

and Hougaard lost the game for the boks against Sarries...

Ryan is a great player. Yes he played terrible last weekend. But we all know he way better than that.

Wynand would have deserved a chance to start

Kirchner is good, but somehow I just don't see him as a Bok fullback. he's dependable but he doesn't seem to offer much on attack. It's a shame that Frans left when he did just as he established himself in the No.15 jersey. Good to see Vic getting a rest and Bekker a run. He's been impressive in the mid-week games. Boks by 25.

Disappointed to see Hougaard there. Before you shout at me I think he's a talent, but that's no way to reward someone who had a mare against Saracens.

kanko and jacobs again?????..where is de jongh or olivier?? toughluck for adams though.. at this stage we have suffered enough humiliation in the scrums, therefore it would've been a better option to have smit in the hooker position. its time we stop this ridiculious experiment with smit in the nr.3 position as its very CLEARLY not working for us. its also time we start calling for the sacking of gary gold as he clearly lacks the motivation to improve our scrums. a scary statistic is that under gary gold we have been scrumed backwards 79% of the scrums that the bokke took part in, and that's only the bokke. WP is a clompletely different storie.

very sad to see Kanko still running on I think johnson would have been better.. No comment on Jacobs...???????

bring in Os even temp for technique scrumming

Guys...Kano is a class player (2008 Super 14 player of the year -SA) and we all know what he can do.

He scored on debut against Wales, and since then has come off the bench for 10 minute slots, or started with a C team scrum in front of him..and carrying bacgs for weeks on tour has not helped.

He deserves time to settle and have a real chance.

If you all recall, Spies's first game was the 49-0 drubbing at the hands of Aus, and then he went on tour and got OWNED by the Irish loosies...

He has taken a while to settle, and has taken a year or two to get to where he is now in the bok pack.

Give Kanko the same chance

I think it's worth noting that every time a player runs out for the boks, or any other international side for that matter, he does so with the intention of playing his heart out for his country.

I find it quite sad that players are so often lambasted by the media or the fans for a bad performance, or for being too small, or whatever... They don't pick themselves, and put their bodies on the line week in and week out for the glory of the game and the nation... It's easy to criticise when you're sitting at your desk reading articles and checking out team slections... Cut the guys some slack, they're heroes and they deserve it.

Thanks sharktank! That what I been trying to say for weeks now.

(btw I am not a Shark supporter - just a Ryan supporter)

Adi Jacobs ... Fail!!!!
Wynand Olivier?????
Jongi Nokwe????
Juan De Jongh (great prospect give the guy a chance)?????

Francois Hougaard I reckon deserves a go.

Ryan Kankowski not sure if he is the right man here, at international level I dont think he is power enough.

I really cant put my finger on it, but why is it though that all the Sharks players are performing way below par???? I will use an quick example to illustrate my point. How is it that the Cheetahs front row destroyed the Sharks front row in their last encounter.... Give the Cheetahs front row a chance, they have played as a unit for a while and will be destructive in this year end tour..

sharktank1, Kanko has had so many chances now! This is his second year of being part of the squad. And please dont compare him to Spies...i think we can all agree now, except u and rugbygal, that Spies is in a completely different league to Kanko. Thats like comparing schalk brits to Bismarc. Yes he has done some great things at S14 level and CC, but he has done NOTHING at int. level. Spies at least made the step up within 2 years. How much time does he need? 3 years? Thats a career in Rugby years. Please man, look at it at a objective point of view...if Willem Alberts got given a chance to play at int level and after 2 years he still did nothing, would you still want him there over and above players that could actually do more than him?

And RugbyGal please dont even comment. You just want him to be in the team cause you think he is hot..."Ryan supporter"...OMG!!

I agree give Kanko another shot he is a brilliant player. I agree he was rather crap the last game but he is class.

Zane is a nothing at the back, we do need young Steyn there.

I might get some abuse for this post but does anyone else think De Jongh is over rated. Sure he had a decent Currie Cup campaign (along with many many others) but he offers very little on attack (he only has a step of the left leg and no distribution skills at all).

All in all he is a decent player but to even think about handing him a Springbok test cap at this stage is a little premature..

Hahaha crazysharkman!! Typical sharks supporter hey. You wanna give Kanko ANOTHER chance, but you think Zane is a nothing at the back. How about we do it the way you guys want it for Kanko...lets give Zane 28 games to prove himself? He is also a brilliant player so im sure thats enough time for him to show us what he's got.

well i agree with you...wynand has done nothing amazing at int level yet. But he is definitely better than Jacobs at no12...so i feel put the better player, who is Olivier, at no12 and bench Jacobs. Same with Kanko...he just isnt cut out for int level so put him on the bench and give someone who can play at no8 in the NH a chance...like Burger or Johnson??

last post was for shmo

Gilbert - u can't make your mark at international level from the bench! Last year him and Spies had to sit and watch Puke take th Nr. 8 jersey. What real changes did he really get? You tell me!

ANd I will comment all I like!

No hooker on the bench........ poor old smitty now has to focus on his lineout throws as well as being a force at scrum time at tight head.

Wow RugbyGal you must be a real genius!
"u can't make your mark at international level from the bench"...hmmm...what an intelligent comment .
Let me list a few players that HAVE made their mark at int level from the bench - Bismarc, Frans Steyn, MORNE STEYN!!!, HEINRICH BRUOSOWWWW!!!!!, Ricky Januarie (2008), Juan Smith (2005)....and the list goes on.

I think Gilbert is commenting way too much....dude u just repeating yourself.
I normally just sit back and try not join these position debates, but in this case I finally have to get involved. Kanko deserves 1 more chance, I agree if he throws this 1 he's had his shot. But again u mus look at the team performance before you judge. Sat we were on the back foot, no body played well, but he gets the flak.
Sharktank1 hit the nail on the head, kanko has only had 9 chances, Spies started every game an had some shockers but we all knew his talent so persevered wit him. Spies' hands at the back of the scrum are still his biggest weakness, especially if it's going back. Kanko showed on sat, wit the scrum going back, handles the ball and still made the adv. line. He dropped the ball in the tackle a couple of times, which is obvious to every one, espescially wen a try is scored from it but the tackles were gd, attacking a wet ball and he wasn't the only one who it happpened to.
So lets give him a chance and drop the debate and see how he does and we can review his game later...

RugbyGal, you should seriously reconsider my plea about you not commenting anymore....i think it would save you from future embarrassment.

HAha Gilbert typical Bulls supporter. At least Kanko has proved himself at Currie cup and super 14 level for many years. Zane has had one decent season, he is just there cause we don't have anyone one else, oh no, the best 15 in the country is at home--- Stevan Terblanche.

Zane= Flash in the pan. To be honest I'd rather have Rose there.. And he's not a Shark!

Everybody wants to give Konko another chance, but slams Kirchner after 2 games. Be fair guys. He may not have done anything spectacular but he also needs time to settle. Kanko gets 2 years and Zane 2 games. Now really, is that fair?

Kanko

hahah smart, im a lions supporter...'you are clearly a Bulls fan'...why cause i want Olivier to start ahead of Jacobs and want Kanko out? Well then most of the world must clearly be Bulls fans. I would rather have Alberts or Johnson starting than Kanko.

You're a Sharks supporter aren't you?

Typical Bulls supporters smart! ANd yes as a huge Ryan fan I also think this will be his last change for a while. He was not that good in 2009 as he was in 2008.

And oh Gilbert. Yes they got their change with a real team. NOt the teams Ryan had to play with. Tell me any other player that can run trough McCaw like he did last year. Yes he had a bad year compared to 2008. And I am the first to admit it. But a great S14 player of the year don't go crap like that in a year.

Lets just all forget SPies great handling and defensive work in the past!

What?? Gilbert you are high mate..

He only has 9 test caps - of which he has only started in 3 tests! 3 my man. How does that equal plenty of time/chances!?

It does not!
He has been part of the sqaud, but has played no games - so you cant compare him to spies.

So yes Spies has stepped up within 2 years, but he has started every game for 2 years!

And we have all watched him have shockers, and go missing, and throw bad passes etc...he has only now, this season, actuallu showed us some solid play as an international number 8..

So you are right, you can;t compare...but to say Kanko has had so many chances justs hows how ignorant you are.

Hhahaah and crazysharksman you also think im a Bulls supporter!!
Looks like if anyone annoys a Sharks supporter then they think he must be a Bulls supporter...South Africa isn't jsut made up of Bulls supporters and Sharks supporters...there are other people.

You guys aren't perhaps part of a doomsday cult are you? Cause you seem to be seperating yourselves from the rest of the world at a surprising rate.

Kanko got creamed against italy last time out. Bortolomi if I remember correctly. If there is any team that will want to take on physically up front, then it is Italy. Kanko not the man, I fear. IMO it should be 1 Spies, 2 Alberts, 3 Johnson and then Kanko. At least for games against Italy, France, England, Scotland, Argentina and Ireland.

Well Gilbert - Lions/Bulls you all from the same neighbourhood. Forgive us.

ANd no I won't stop commenting.

Dude sharktank1, seriously though i said that he has been PART OF THE SQUAD FOR 2 YEARS NOW, not part of the starting line-up. Surely the coaching staff are seeing something that you arent if he has been part of the squad for 2 years and has only 9 caps??

Im gonna stop arguing now cause you guys and GALS are tiring me. Its not possible to argue with ignorant Shark supporters...you're obviously never gonna see the point that im trying to make cause all you are worried about is seeing how quickly you can identify a bulls supporter (which you guys suck at by the way).

Let me know when you're ready to think about this objectively and then we can chat...OK?

I see Italy are ranked 12th in the world, behind Fiji and Samoa. We really need to record a big score against them to salvage some pride and then take on Ireland.

Well I am not a Shark supporter. Last year both Spies and Kanko had to look at Luke taking the spot. Kanko's first game last year the dirty Italians took him out. Then he had an injury. ANd like I said before = this year he did not have the year he had in 2008. But for ppl to say Johnson can take his place without even playing a S14 game is just making me sick!

Peace Gilbert. I grew up in the Lions/Bulls country. My dad still cant understand that I support the Stormers!

Watch out Steynop15 you might be labelled as a Bulls supporter for saying that.

But yeah you're right! Kanko is definitely a great no8 for SH provincial tournaments and also a very decent sub to have for the tri-nations but definitely not cracked out to be a starting no8 for the tight games.

True dat RugbyGal.

But do you feel De Jongh could be playing in place of Jacobs?

Gilbert if your not a bulls fan your must be a closet bulls fan, but then again by your doomsday comment I am just thinking you must be a sad little man who spends most of his time in front of the computer. And really are there other people in SA WOW I would never of guest….thanks for enlighten me.

Please Gilbert I have asked this Question a 100 times tell me when Olivier has ever done anything in a boks jersey that is worth mentioning at lest Jacobs has done something in a Boks jersey and if it was left up to people like you we would be changing the team every bloody week.

Nope Gilbert. He not ready yet. In a year or 2 maybe!

Just like Johnson. We all remember what happened to Hougard. Give them time to get into the system.

Is smarts' dad letting him use the internet again!!!!!Anyway I really think Smit is going to have a much better game because of du Preez because every time Beast had a good game as far as scrums go,Smit performed well!Why Kankowski and is still there no one knows!I still think that Jacobs is a good player,he proved it last year he just needs to get confidence back but that being said it MUST happen this Saturday,if not,it is time for him to move on!

Does anybody know if we get back the number 1 spot if we beat Italy? Probably not. Anyone?

ok thats great smart...well done for that first paragraph. It must have taken you a while to type that.

Does anyone see the irony in smart's username?

So anyway, in reply to your second paragraph...
Wynand has had a sublime season at cc and s14 level...just like Kanko did last year...but you say that Olivier has done nothing at int level yet, just like Kanko...thats both true. But you dont think Olivier deserves another chance but you think Kanko deserves another chance...why do you think that smart?

Good point RugbyGal. But you dont think that Johsons raw talent to play an abrasive game at no8 would be more benificial than having a no8 that will most likely struggle in the tight no matter how much experience he has?

Hey underoath, i think that because England is rated higher than Italy then if the All Blacks and Springboks both win their games then nothing will happen...but i think if it was the other way round then and we played the poms and NZ italy then we would prbably go higher....

Thats my guess...anyone know how it works?

Johnson had a agreat 1st game. Tuesday he had a bad game. Do me a favour. Go to the forum side of this site. You will find some good conversation there. ANd they need another Lions supporter!

Haha i think the Lions could do with another Lions supporter...

RugbyGal I'm not against you I just want to know if you rate Kanko higher than Spies? I rate Kanko the number 3 at 8 in the country behind Spies and Alberts.

I regards to De Jongh. Man what a prospect for the FUTURE. But not right now. I really do think players should not be given a shot in the springbok jersey until they have proven themselves in the Super14. Give him another year and I bet he will make the team on a regular basis.

Looking at Zane. Decent player, does exactly what is expected of him, nothing more. He is just filling the gap for the time being until Steyn/Jantjes comes back or Joe Pietersen matures (not talking about age here, he just needs to play more Super14 first). (On that note I wonder what WP will do when Jantjes comes back from injury)

Adi. Also not too bad, but I really think SA can do better than him.

It will be easier for Kanko and Jacobs or whoever to shine in this game because the opposition is not as good as let’s say the All Blacks. It’s actually irrelevant if they perform well. Now if they perform poorly...

SHUT UP ALL OF YOU PUT DEYSEL ON 8!!! Search for him on you tube!!! He is stronger than Spies by a country mile mayb not as fast though but i would sacrifice pace for strength at 8th man any day!!!

Here we go again!!!!!!

Haha Ozbok im just glad Deysel gets a chance... Finally.. deserve's it.

Gilbert

That is an easy one to answer. I say Give Kanko a chance because the number one 8th man in the country is not available, yes Spies. Olivier doesn’t get a chance because Jacobs is in and has played well for the Boks like against the French, Olivier has never played well in a boks jersey.

And the comments about my Blog name just goes to show how under your skin I am getting and just maybe my arguments are right and you have no better reply?

It's quite sad that people keep going ON AND ON about provinces, honestly - who cares. Of the provinces that you support, were you born there? And even if you were - WHO CARES? These players don't even know you guys yet here you sit arguing like children. I'm happy for Du Preez cause he's been consistant. Unlike everyone's support

Johnson, great talent, agreed, but needs a few more seasons under his belt before getting a place in the test squad, his decision making is poor on the field, I feel that more than anything good he did, this aspect made both his performance in the mid-week games poor, I've lost count how many times he carried the ball up only to lose it at the breakdown, if you have no support, dont pick and drive, you will either lose the ball or concede a penalty, yet he does this time and time again without seeming to learn from it..

Kanko is a quality player, spies has undeniably made no.8 his own, but think that kanko is a completely different kind of player with far more ball skills, with more game time, the two can compliment each other really nicely, altho I dont think that the heavy conditions in europe are conducive to his style of play..

Adi is a far more creative player than olivier, i think that a lot of other players had far worse games than he or kanko did last weekend, but no one seems to be mentioning their poor performances, a little strange, seems to be more of a personal prejudice rather than an actual rugby opinion...

Lets just get behind all the guys and go get a win..