Spies ruled out of November tour

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Spies ruled out of November tour

Bulls number eight Pierre Spies will not travel to Europe with the Springboks in November due to the slow recovery of a finger injury.
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8114730,00.html​

 

[TRF_heineken]

Not really big news as we knew this since he injured his finger. Guess he thought there might be an outside chance of playing end of the year.

I just hope this rest helps him get that amazing form back he had in 2009.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Not really big news as we knew this since he injured his finger. Guess he thought there might be an outside chance of playing end of the year.

I just hope this rest helps him get that amazing form back he had in 2009.

Surely you mean 2004?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Surely you mean 2004?

I'm not talking about Schalk Burger...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Touche but Spies still suck balls and has sucked them hard for some time.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Touche but Spies still suck balls and has sucked them hard for some time.

True.

but he's such an athlete, it would be a shame to leave to rot on a pile. Hopefully this time off will give some reflection, and hopefully improve his game.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, Spies hasn't been the same since his injury in 2007. With Vermeulen and Kankowski (really, I am serious here guys, Kanko has been good this year and will come back more relaxed from Japan) we have 2 Bok-quality scrum-backs (I like that name for the position) and I am curious to see how they do in the upcoming Tests. I think Kanko will only be available for the Spring Tour of 2013, but he will bring more variation in the squad.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well, Spies hasn't been the same since his injury in 2007. With Vermeulen and Kankowski (really, I am serious here guys, Kanko has been good this year and will come back more relaxed from Japan) we have 2 Bok-quality scrum-backs (I like that name for the position) and I am curious to see how they do in the upcoming Tests. I think Kanko will only be available for the Spring Tour of 2013, but he will bring more variation in the squad.

Kanko has been a disappointment every bloody time he puts on the Bok-jersey. He's just one of those guys that can't do the step up.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

True.

but he's such an athlete, it would be a shame to leave to rot on a pile. Hopefully this time off will give some reflection, and hopefully improve his game.

He is more than welcome to not rot on a pile for the Bulls in SR and CC.

Well, Spies hasn't been the same since his injury in 2007. With Vermeulen and Kankowski (really, I am serious here guys, Kanko has been good this year and will come back more relaxed from Japan) we have 2 Bok-quality scrum-backs (I like that name for the position) and I am curious to see how they do in the upcoming Tests. I think Kanko will only be available for the Spring Tour of 2013, but he will bring more variation in the squad.

Nah, between Vermeulen, Coetzee, Stander (if he comes back or makes himself available while overseas) and Alberts we have more than enough players to cover 8. Kanko is in some good form and has certainly upped his work in the tight but is still pretty useless unless you're already winning IMO.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, we have some good loosies coming through as well like Coetzee CJ Stander (I hope Brynard Stander in a year or 2) and Kolisi but I feel Kankowski has really improved the last 12 months and he might be surprising everyone (despite people here not seeing his qualities *ahum*)

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well, we have some good loosies coming through as well like Coetzee CJ Stander (I hope Brynard Stander in a year or 2) and Kolisi but I feel Kankowski has really improved the last 12 months and he might be surprising everyone (despite people here not seeing his qualities *ahum*)

Don't forget about Arno Botha...

Kanko is not a has-been, he's a never-was...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Same as Spies, who has never really stepped up as a Bok player. You can say what you want, but both Spies and Kanko have been solid at club level but lack the consistency to make a name for themselves at international level.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Same as Spies, who has never really stepped up as a Bok player. You can say what you want, but both Spies and Kanko have been solid at club level but lack the consistency to make a name for themselves at international level.

By the lack of other quality No. 8 in our country at the time. Spies did a bloody good job, with illness and all. He's still a huge step-up from Kanko

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Really? Spies is a player who never goes forward with the ball. His lateral movement doesn't bring us anything other than a ruck in a different position. For a guy with his physique, you can expect a little bit more.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Really? Spies is a player who never goes forward with the ball. His lateral movement doesn't bring us anything other than a ruck in a different position. For a guy with his physique, you can expect a little bit more.

Yes you could...

but we all expected a lot more from Kanko too...

 

[Sker]

I was a huge fan of his Spies, still remember how he demolished the English but like everyone else is saying, after that illness of his he just wasn't the same player.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Yes you could...

but we all expected a lot more from Kanko too...

Still, you critsize Kanko but are sweet-talking Spies (I do the same the other way round, I know haha).

 

[TRF_heineken]

Still, you critsize Kanko but are sweet-talking Spies (I do the same the other way round, I know haha).

What can I say... I'm a huge fan of Pierre Spies. but I do agree that he fell off the wagon the last 2 years.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, let's agree on that then. I am a huge Kanko fan, you are a huge Spies fan but both have disappointed for the Boks lately while they were playing good up until 2008 (Yes, Kanko also played good for the Boks)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

^ Yes and lets agree that neither were at the time close to what Skinstad was before them (at least off the bench) or what Vermeulen is/will be.