This morning some light was shed on the situation with John Plumtree and Ryan Kankowski who told The Business Day that he was “shocked” and “upset” to be left out of the Sharks touring squad.
Kankowski said that Plumtree had been talking to him about his form and that he had agreed that he wasn’t playing at his best, but that he was still shocked to be left out given the big number of injuries and lack of experience.
“It’s a blow, especially with all the injuries we have, that I was not good enough for the tour. I guess Plum knows what he’s doing and I’ll just have to wait until he gets back” said Kankowski of his sudden omission from the squad.
I’m upset about being axed, the Sharks have been my life for the last 10 years and it came as a shock to me,” he said. “When he told me that I was out of the squad I was unhappy and he knew that, but there’s not much that you as a player can do.”
“Plum said he wanted me to get more involved in the game. Even though I’ve been playing out of position at times, I’m not going to use that as an excuse,” he said “You get put on the field and you’re expected to deliver.”
Further in the article it was revealed that Kankowski has denied reports of a rift between him and the coach, but apparently there are sources that have indicated that there was a heated argument against the coach and the player last week. Kankowski went to Japan for the second half of the season last year, but has always been loyal to the Sharks and insured that his contract with his Japanese club would not interfere with his Super Rugby duties for the Sharks. This recent development could have an effect on that loyalty in the future though.
“I’m contracted until the end of the year, but this has certainly made me rethink my future with the Sharks,” he said to The Business Day. “But Durban is my home and it’s a special place to me.”
Even though we have been guessing the same things here on Sharksworld I must admit now that it has been confirmed, to a certain degree by the player and reports of this “row”, I myself am not very pleased with what is coming out of the Sharks camp. This cannot be good for the team and to a degree it must affect their mood and could have affected their performances of late.
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Plum needs to go. He is fuc!ing up the union. Plum was and is noway the worst player!! This can cause a serious rift in the team. It’s clearly personal and shows how immature Plum is.
Told you so.
Here’s a few more comments from Kanko:
“Plum was really unhappy with the way I’ve been playing and I was instructed to ‘take some time off and go do whatever I want’. It was quite a shock to be told something like that midway through the season and it caught me completely off guard.
“It’s a blow, especially with all the injuries we have at the moment, that I still wasn’t good enough to make the tour. I guess Plum knows what he’s doing and I’ll just have to come back stronger.”
“A lot of reasons have been thrown around as to why I was axed,” Kankowski said. “I was told Japan was bad for me and that the possibility of me going back also played a role, as well as my form not being as good as it could be.
“But I don’t buy that I’m not fit. I’ve been playing for four full seasons prior to this one, so obviously match fitness isn’t a problem.
“I’m just going to have to keep working hard, but I’ve no idea if I can win Plum’s trust back. I went through something similar last year when I told him I was going to Japan but I fought back from that.”
Kankowski was unsure why he was axed when a player such as Frans Steyn – who has also been out of form and, by the coach’s own admission, is unfit – was still in the squad.
John Smit – you have a lot of stuff to fix when you walk in. I just hope it is not too late by then.
the man behind all the goings on at the sharks is Rudolf Straeuli.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 1) : Kanko that is!
@robdylan (Comment 2) : It was pretty obvious, but as I say, to have it confirmed by the player has me worried about Plum, he’s record at the Sharks is average at best and he’s pissing players of.
Apparently when he heard Jannie and Bissie was talking to European clubs he told them to bugger of if they want to and they weren’t very pleased with the way he reacted to the news.
And I said – APPARENTLY – so it is not definite, just rumored.
How many years with Plum as the coach have we heard about rifts and unhappiness in the Sharks team. I have just about had enough.
@pete69 (Comment 5) : No this is between the coach and the player, it’s reported that Rudolph don’t want to say much and seems to be trying to act as a middle man and smooth things over as much as he can. Probably with the press to.
Plum is doing a John Mitchell it seems….
@Letgo (Comment 7) : I agree , look plum has been great to the Sharks esp considering the other coaches we had after Mac left, but I am really starting the think he is loosing it, and needs to be replaced.
Maybe John Smit will bring Jake White back to Africa 😛
Sheesh. Treating a senior player like this must surely make the rookies rethink signing long term with the Sharks. Say what you want about the Bulls and Cheetahs, they know how to foster a good atmosphere between all the players and coaches. Plum can take a leaf out of their books in management of people I think.
The Frans situation has been badly handled by Plum and his team. Surely when he started training again they he was way overweight and totally unfit. Would it not had been better then to put the oke on a serious conditioning plan rather than let him play in that state?
Kanko did not look unfit and fat to me when he was playing. He was not great against the Stormers, but neither was anybody else. He was playing as a 7 in any case. In the games where he played at 8 he also did not set the world alight but at the same time he was not that poor.
@Uli (Comment 11) : When does Jake’s Contract end with the Brumbies?
What about Mallet, who likes Brendon Venter as an option?
At this stage I would welcome Snor with open arms. 😉
@PTAShark (Comment 12) : Exactly why I am thinking of going blue… dammit… why am I even thinking that?
The Sharks always seem to have a rift every 10 years…. and the Bulls always talk about playing for each other.
@Bokhoring (Comment 13) : He was nowhere near as bad as Keegan has been since he came back for the Brumbies game.
And Marcell looks tired, as does Jannie.
I think Plumtree does not back his players…..they get dropped too quickly..hence the reason for the individual play rather than team effort…Everyone is too worried about their position.I believe Kanko has every reason to be hugely hacked off with the Sharks outfit…loyalty is just not there
@pete69 (Comment 5) : in this case that is patently and blatantly untrue.
@Letgo (Comment 14) : Yes white is until the next WC afik, I know that’s a bit of a problem. Yes I think Mallet the only option other than Brendan who i don’t think will fit the Sharks, but who knows he did surprise me when he was in the UK and never thought he’d make a year there. but then again he got banned from the sidelines as well at one stage for expressing his feelings to a ref in one game afik. So Id rather stay clear from him, maybe use him as a assistant coach.
At last, some factual reporting. Thank you Business Day.
@Letgo (Comment 7) : Leave the sarcasm for Richard, 😈 . Why bother even mentioning something if it is only a rumour, what does it achieve?????
@Letgo (Comment 14) : oh hang on NOT SNOR PLEASE!!!! lol
@Letgo (Comment 14) : The nice thing about Jake is he is not scared to bring in strong characters onto his team. He seems to be working pretty well at the Brumbies where they actually have a history of player revolts, and he was never scared to pull in characters like Eddie Jones and now Larkham / Gregan to assist.
Plum seems to have a history of fall outs with players, e.g. Rory Kockett, Pat Cilliers and now Kanko.
@Bokhoring (Comment 13) : I agree totally with your comment. I have to wonder though if KD has anything to do with whats happening in the Sharks camp…
@Letgo (Comment 14) : I cant imagine Mallet or Venter relocating to Durban, well maybe Mallet if someone can convince of the superiority of the Midlands flyfishing over the Boland streams.
@Bokhoring (Comment 22) : not sure but I have a suspicion that your list maybe longer…
Obviously Kanko is just never going to have the physicality of Willem Alberts – very few players can match Vick in that dept.
I am happy for the chance the younger players like Mtembu gets to go on tour, but the fact is Kanko (even in his current for) will still add more value to the team than Mtembu can at this stage.
@Uli (Comment 21) : One thing Snor never did was treating his players poorly. I am actually starting to miss his outlandish post-match interviews in this current bland rugby landscape.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 1) : Agree, Plum has run his course! Time to beg Mallet to come to Durban!
@Letgo (Comment 14) : Would Brenden Venter be willing and available? Shit that would be awesome. To think we couldve probably picked up Jake White for under trade value…
@Salmonoid (Comment 24) : Then get a fresh new guy in. We don’t have to know him. Make it an open application and see what we come up with. I can’t take this drama from Plum anymore.
A trio of Marcell at 6, Kanko at 7 and KD at 8 is all wrong anyway. If you want to play them together then have Kanko at 8, Keegan at 6 and Coetzee at 7.
Could we afford Mallet? and would he be willing to get back into coaching Super? One can only dream
@Salmonoid (Comment 24) : I’m sure if it’s presented as a genuine opportunity he might grab it. After all, he did coach in Italy for a while. We just need to pique his interest in the job and make sure that it ticks all the boxes he would like in a coaching position.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 29) : He doesn’t have much else on his plate now has he? He’s “helping out with the u/21” last I heard.
It’s a good job if he still wants to be a coach… I bet it pays well enough.
@Letgo (Comment 30) : The season is shot anyway. Plum and co will have to finish out the season or at least the S15 anyway.
Pay out Saracens to let John go immediately, task him with getting the players to stay and then start a proper interview process. The Sharks should be able to get the best coaching team, and the main credential of the coach should not be that he played for the Sharks at some point.
@Bokhoring (Comment 27) : I always said he did it to flaw the position into thinking other things instead of rugby 😛
Time for Plummo & Strooili to go…
@Letgo (Comment 30) : You asked the question the other day – who to coach the Sharks, and in reality who is available considering that Mallet, Venter, Muir and a few others are not even coaching at the moment (this should make them ideal for the job….maybe) but then who else is there on the world stage that may be available. Time for some research and an article.
@Butchie34 (Comment 33) : I would love to have Mallet coaching but he too comes with an “approach” that is sure to ruffle many feathers. He would be the prize coach to have, for any union in SA, but would it work in the long run.
Anyway I remember that Boland team that he coached – a bunch of club players that punched so far above their weight it was unreal, and then tere was the great rugby they played while doing it.
@Salmonoid (Comment 38) : What is also important to me is not just the head coach, but the coaching team. We really need some injection of real back line / attack coaching.
There must be good coaches out there – case in point Matt Sexton. This guy has done wonders at the Kings in the time he had to prepare and the players he had to work with.
@Letgo (Comment 16) : they each played 32 games last year…. coincidence?
@robdylan (Comment 41) : They are tired, and this all comes back to this new super system we have.
It’s 2010 all over again, rifts and rumors of rifts.
Strange how the rifts always involve different players, but always the same coach.
That’s probably the only reason why Jake is such a successful coach, he’s not intimidated by players and assistant coaches with strong character.
Old Plummy sadly seems to have a bit of HM syndrome, he wants to coach a group of robots.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : Not so sure about that. I seem to remember something from John’s autobiography or was it Victor’s that Jake was a little hesitant about Victor.
@Letgo (Comment 3) : Can definitely understand why Kankowski is upset. As a senior player, being treated like that, not cool. Still, would love to hear Plum’s point of view, how about it letgo, give him a ring and a chance to respond?…
P Divvy for Sharks coach!! 😈 😆
@SharksRTB (Comment 45) : We will be lucky to keep these guys if this shit is true… When does Lambie’s contract expire?
@Butchie34 (Comment 44) : He sent him home during a 3N campaign but in the end Matfield still played a huge part in winning the World Cup under Jake.
@Uli (Comment 42) : agree
I personally think Smitty needs to bring a broom with him as its time to say goodbye to both Plum and Straueli. Whilst I would be happy to see the back of Straueli, i would be sad to a degree to see Plum go after the service he has given us but the reality is service doesn’t necesarily bring success. We have won the odd Currie Cup and made the odd final but we havent converted enough IMHO especially when one looks at the players we have had at our disposal during Plums tenure. Yes we have been beset by injuries and Plum cant be blamed for this but when do we say enough and move on? Surely he isnt going to be there for the next ten years delivering the same? Bring on Mallett I say, someone who demands results and performance and knows how to win before we start having an exodus of players who also start losing faith.
@Salmonoid (Comment 39) : I want Mallet to coach! Someone, John, please make it happen!
Kanko – Kings 2014 captain??
Ryan doesn’t believe that the article that appeared in Times Live is particularly reflective of what he actually said to the reporter in question….
@Butchie34 (Comment 44) : If JW is able to work with Larkham, who’s notoriously difficult and who has been credited with causing the resignation of 2 Brumbies coaches, then I guess that he has fine tuned his ability to man manage.
I think PdV would make a good manager, keeping the players happy. That was his strength, he backed his players to the hilt. But a coach he never was nor ever will be.
@Vince (Comment 50) : Can all these injuries not maybe be because the players are not committing 100% for the game they play each Saturday?
If you do something halfheartedly, chances of being injured increases dramatically… In training as well.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 51) : Yes please!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 54) : True. I think he has definitely changed that tack and is open for everyone’s input which seems to be something that Plum is not.
PdV is the sort of “coach” who would do well in the soccer setup where the coach is really the manager and has other coaches below him that do the actual coaching.
@Silky (Comment 52) : A real probability taking all the latest happenings into consideration.
@robdylan (Comment 53) : I thought that it might not be, so I didn’t add it in the article. I found it a bit strange that Times Live would have extra comments from Ryan that the Business Day would just leave out.
@Letgo (Comment 59) : for instance, he never said anything about Frans
@robdylan (Comment 53) : Man… This sucks not knowing what is going on with the beloved Sharks!!!
@SharksRTB (Comment 55) : That’s very true.
Just to mention this, when the Sharks played the Leopard in warm-up here in PMB, FS by accident hit Paul Jordaan with his elbow in his face while warming up. FS kept on apologising to him and PJ just kept on ignoring him…. this happened right in from of my eyes and I already thought there must be something wrong if your team mate don’t accept your apology when you ask him for it. Just my two cents what I saw beginning of the season…
@wpw (Comment 46) : Then I’ll make a comeback !!!
😆 
@Uli (Comment 62) : It’s been said that PJ is a bit of an intense character… might not be anything amiss there… perhaps just his way.
@Charlie (Comment 63) : i thought you and Divvy weren’t seeing eye to eye?
@robdylan (Comment 64) : maybe…
@Uli (Comment 66) : I agree with you that it doesn’t seem good and healthy, though
@robdylan (Comment 65) : Life moves on hey… 😉
@SharksRTB (Comment 55) : If thats the case then all the more reason for the two of them to go. The way I see it part of their job is to get the guys up for every match end of story. If some of the players aren’t doing their part,its up to them to either get rid of the guys or motivate them. No room for passengers, either in the the coaching staff otr the playing staff.
Plum has become stale at the Sharks, they need new blood in the coaching department.
They showed his stats on TV the other day. 61% win record is not good enough really
@Salmonoid (Comment 24) : Ever noticed how Mallet says “We kicked aimlessly” when talking about the Sharks? He doesn’t say “We” when talking about the Cheetahs. Closet Sharks fan?
@Bokhoring (Comment 27) : Actually Snor also messed with Kanko. Played him out of position when he got a chance but mostly kept him out of the CC by having him carry tackle bags on tour. Also dropped him for apparent bad form from time to time.
@Uli (Comment 62) : In the Sharks / Stormers game, Stormers started the match with a kick onto the 19 year old Sean Robinson, he took the ball but also got monstered by the Stormers chasers. The guy was a bundle of nerves, it was his debut and he was being tested and I think he did well under the circumstances. It was not captured on TV but Frans Steyn made a point of running up to Robinson, putting his hand on his shoulder and let him know that he had done well.
Hats off to Steyn for doing that and having the insight into what the youngster must have been going through at that time.
@Salmonoid (Comment 39) : Punched above their weight!
I bet you Hoff will be at the stormers next season.
Where is the link to KSA’s ‘Get rid of Plumtree’ facebook page?
If I was Kanko I would sommer pack my bags and bogger off. 👿
Sweet, we can edit again 😀
@SteelShark (Comment 76) : I can’t post it in case Salmonoid phones Straeuli to tell on me 🙂
Wonder how well John Smit knows Mitchell.
I would love to see a change . . .
@Original Pierre (Comment 79) : Mitchell? Are you on ACTUAL DRUGS?
He’s about the only oke in the world who is worse at man management than Plumtree is
@Salmonoid (Comment 73) : Wow, that’s awesome to hear the “bad boy” doing things as such. It seems obvious that FS doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Edit: Something KD should have done…..
@robdylan (Comment 80) : No it`s a bit early.
Mitchell got results with a less talented pool of players.
Our guys need a strict coach imo. Maybe then they`ll play to potential again for the first time since . . . well 2010?
@Original Pierre (Comment 82) : Maybe as strict as oom rudi? lol
@robdylan (Comment 78) : Ha ha, 😆
Rudi doesnt need me to let him know whats going on, he can read and deduce as well as the next administrator.
@Uli (Comment 81) : FS has matured quite a bit and he is a nice enough chap. He just needs to learn to pass – that is his biggest fault. The rest of his game is still fine – tackling, kicking, tackle busting runs…
@Salmonoid (Comment 84) : I’ll go check my phone, shall I? 🙂
@King Shark (Comment 72) : Kanko has never really shined at test level – so he was a fringe player at best. It is a bit different at the Sharks.
For him to completely fall out of the Sharks touring squad is what gets me.
Guys, I think calling for Plums head is a bit of an over reaction.
Yes we are having a tough season, yes he told Kanko to go and sort himself out, but coaches are not there to be mates with the players, they make hard decisions thats not going to make everyone happy. I would rather see kanko put his feet up for a couple of weeks, maybe play a couple of VC games to get his confidence back up and play like the player we know he is.
Think about it guys, we will have Bissy, Vic and maybe Whitehead back. If we can get a couple of bonus points and target the Froce game, we could have a bit of revival
@Tintin (Comment 88) : you’re right. We could finish 6th yet again 🙂
@Bokhoring (Comment 87) : The only reason he didn’t shine at test level is because he never got a decent run in his best position. How does one stick an 8th man at flank for a couple of internationals, then decide he isn’t good enough for test rugby?
That’s like putting JPP at 13 for a couple of tests and then dropping him for not making the grade. 😯
Even though we don’t have a loose forward issue, you’re welcome to come home, we could use some of your experience down here.
@rhineshark (Comment 90) : I also did not agree with that, but obviously the coaches rated Barbie at 8 more than him.
My argument is not about selection issues – I just never recall Snor having public tiffs with players.
I was actually annoyed when Kanko went to Japan last year, because he finally could have gotten his chance at 8 for the Boks.
@Ludz (Comment 91) : ahemmm, ““But Durban is my home and it’s a special place to me.”
@Ludz (Comment 91) : He probably has had enough of coaches and favoritism. He is better off coining the big bucks in Japan.
@Bokhoring (Comment 92) : Unfortunately that’s SA rugby. Big and thick seems to be the ideal to strive for. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 89) : Think the comp this year is a bit more open with the likes of the Chief, Reds, Brumbies and most of the SA conf losing a lot more often, if we manage to get a bit of a run going in the closing half of the comp it could be liek last year except with maybe a home semi or better.
Its been a strange comp this year
This is a career of which am sure no more than 5 years is left and if you had to make all your decisions sentimentally, we would get nowhere
@Tintin (Comment 96) : The Sharks will have to finish above the Bulls (plus at least the conference winner of one other country) to get a home semi. The Bulls have a much easier run left (away games to Stormers, Cheetahs and Sharks their most difficult games – last one said with more hope than faith) than we have. Perhaps the money issues at the Bulls may unsettle their squad, but I am not holding out on that one.
The Chiefs and Brumbies have both completed their tour to SA.
We may still sneak in at 6 but it will depend on other teams stuffing up.
Everything will depend on how we tour, and with all the disruptions we would do very well to come back with 9-10 points
@Bokhoring (Comment 98) : I’m not even looking at predictions this year, it will make me crazy to think of what we’d have to achieve and where other teams would have to mess up to get to a decent position this year.
@Bokhoring (Comment 87) : Like someone else already sai, he was never given a chance to shine, he has something like 20 caps in 8 years. And only one or two starts.
@Tintin (Comment 96) : Good attitude mate…
@Tintin (Comment 96) : let’s hold thumbs boet. We need at least 10 points from the tour though. That’s going to be a tough enough challenge as is.
Ah, stop whining Kanko… we’ve all had to deal with disappointment i our careers.
Get back on your bike and turn your fortunes around!