Kankowski revved up
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:17
Big future: Ryan Kankowski on the run
Tearaway Sharks No.8 Ryan Kankowski has been a revelation this Super 14 season and cannot wait to face up to Richie McCaw on Friday when his team meet the Crusaders.
The Sharks go into Friday's massive Super 14 clash with the table-topping Crusaders knowing that they need a win in order to keep their Super 14 home semifinal hopes alive. A loss could see them drop out of the top four by the end of the weekend.
The boys from Durban realise that they simply cannot afford a third defeat on the trot. It's make-or-break for them at the AMI Stadium on Friday.
Sharks No.8 Ryan Kankowski will be a key man for the visitors chances of causing an upset. He has been superb this season and has been prominent in the majority of his team's attacking movements.
The 21-year-old Springbok chatted exclusively to rugby365.com from their five-star golf resort near Christchurch.
Kankowski was upbeat ahead of their clash with the Crusaders on Friday.
"So far so good," he said of the build-up. "The guys are training really hard and looking really good."
Kankowski, who scored a try on his Springbok debut against Wales last year, was under no illusions at the enormity of the task that awaited his team.
"It's a must-win game for us," he said.
"We are going flat out for the win. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to get a home semi.
"For us to achieve that we need to win on Friday. We are preparing well this week so hopefully all goes well," he added.
The Sharks have never beaten the Crusaders in Christchurch and have just two victories to show from 11 meetings with the six-time champions. They will need to make that three from 12 to keep their season on track.
Kankowski was well aware of the Crusaders' phenomenal record and was full of praise for Richie McCaw's men.
"The Crusaders are an awesome team and we are going to have to work very hard," said the No.8.
Talking of McCaw, Kankowski is relishing the opportunity of playing against the All Black skipper.
"It's always great playing against the best," he said.
"Richie [McCaw] is definitely one of the best flanks in the world so it's going to be a massive challenge for us. But I'm looking forward to it," added a confident Kankowski.
He hinted that the Sharks might change their tactics somewhat, saying: "We have a couple of tactics up our sleeve. We just need to play our game and not end up playing their's. We will see how it goes on the day."
Dick Muir's team have been criticised for kicking too much ball away over the last few weeks. Crusaders fullback Leon MacDonald is a lethal counter-attacker who will feast on any misdirected kicks from Ruan Pienaar and co.
Kankowski was sending out mixed signals has to whether they will keep the ball in hand at the AMI Stadium.
"We will try run the ball," the No.8 said. "But there is always a time and place for kicking."
"We just need to adapt to the situation on the day. If it's not working we can always change our gameplan," he added.
Kankowski was been one of the standout No.8's in the Super 14 this year, but he credited his teammates for the success he has enjoyed.
"Things have been going well, but having great players around me always helps," a modest Kankowski said.
"Its been awesome [playing alongside Keegan Daniel and Jacques Botes].
"I've played with Keegan since we were young so it's been very easy playing with him," he said.
Kankowski attended St Andrews College in Grahamstown, while Daniel went to Dale College, two Eastern Cape schools steeped in rugby history.
"I played with Jacques the whole Super 14 last year," said Kankowski. "He's [Botes] a really hard worker.
"Both are good runners with the ball in hand so its been fun for me [as] I enjoy running with the ball too. The guys work really hard so it's easy playing with them," added the Springbok No.8.
The loose trio's speed around the park has been their main strength this season, with Kankowski's pace off the back of the scrum being a real asset to the Durban franchise.
It's the final week of a tough five week tour for Kankowski and his team. They have had to cross the Tasman Sea twice, and the fact that they have only accumulated seven points from their four matches in Australasia has made it tough.
But Kankowski said he was a good tourist, but admitted "some of the guys start missing their wives and girlfriend after five weeks on the road."
He also confessed that his golf game "wasn't great" but that he was working hard on improving. Clearly the big No.8's talents are more suited to the rugby field than the fairways.
The golf clubs will be temporarily packed away as the Sharks prepare to face Robbie Deans' team on.
Kankowski's teammates will be banking on another big performance from him as they search for that elusive first win in Christchurch.
By Steve Farrell
