Sharks' Kankowski: it will be tough

Springbok No 8 Ryan Kankowski believes that the Sharks' biggest threat in the Super 14 will probably come from the teams from Down Under.

Speaking at the Sharks media launch, the newly capped international echoed similar sentiments to his coach Dick Muir, who stated that the Australasian franchises would be primed to fire.

"They've had some extra time off to prepare because the All Blacks and Wallabies didn't go on an end of year tour like the Springboks did," said Kankowski.

"Also after how well the SA teams did last year in the Super 14, the New Zealanders and Australians are going to come after us. It's going to be tough, week in and week out."

Predicting which side would raise their game when the pressure was on, Kankowski said: "I would probably have to say the Crusaders will be up there."

"They played in six finals and been in the semis virtually every year, so they'll want to give (coach) Robbie Deans a good send off before he joins the Wallabies.

Then there is the Brumbies and they'll be up for the challenge, they've won the competition before, and are a very clever team."

Commenting on how the players have adapted to the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) Kankowski said the team were positive about the changes.

"The reason these laws have been introduced is to attempt to increase playing time with the ball and fewer scrums," he said.

"With backlines having to stand five metres away from the scrum, there should be more space to attack from and this means a few new defensive patterns have to be learned. Also with the ball in play more, your skill levels have to be better."

"The laws might have changed slightly, but rugby is rugby at the end of the day.

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