Rugby
Plumtree relieved with the Bok-laden Sharks performance against the reigning champs
The Sharks have had the luxury to field a star studded matchday squad for the last 2 seasons. They were nicknamed "The Galacticos" of modern club rugby. Under the tutelage from John Plumtree with his second stint at the Sharks, the side has underperformed with the Springbok players coming in and out and the side struggling with the chemistry.
John Plumtree//Getty Image
They finished third from the bottom last season but managed to salvage a European Challenge Cup Trophy. The previous week, the side was under the microscope again as all their Springboks returned from a successful campaign in The Rugby Championship and they would face the reigning champions Glasgow Warriors at home.
The matchday squad featured 12 Springboks starting and 4 current or former Springboks on the bench. Possibly the strongest outfit the Sharks have fielded for a matchday squad.
"I haven't thought about that [Sharks strongest team], we have a fresh group of players and players not so fresh. What was key was getting the balance right, that was my focus,” Plumtree told SportsBoom.com.
“The team that was selected is a strong team on paper but its how this team comes together to play strong is what really matters."
We had a short time to prepare and we relied on the combinations probably more than playing together as a group. We relied more on the 4 or 5 Springboks playing in the pack who have played together over the last couple of months, not with us but with them [Springboks].
Performance vs reigning champs
The Sharks managed to hold off Glasgow Warriors with a 28-24 victory at home. Springbok Aphelele Fassi was named Player of the Match.
"He was great, it is always a challenge for these players [Springboks] to come back and play for their clubs or provinces. I thought Eben [Eztebeth] was right up there again and Fassi was great, Mapimpi [Makazole] was great. It's hard to really single out someone.”
“I thought Ox [Nche] was good when he got on with his work, so was Bongi [Mbonambi] and Siya Kolisi as well who had some really nice moments. It's really to single out anyone but if you speak about Fassi, the latest Sharks player to elevate his rankings in the Springboks, it's really pleasing to see him back up good performances from the Boks and now into this club. Good on him and I am proud of him."
Lessons learnt from last season
"The team is powerful when we are in sync and having cohesion. We finished off like that last year, if you look at the Challenge Cup we were a very confident team. It will take a bit of form to get back to that. We got a nice full week and hopefully we see more moments like that team [vs Glasgow and Challenge Cup campaign].”
Impact of experienced players within the squad
"Look, you got Jurenzo Julius rubbing shoulders with Lukhanyo Am and there have been many examples of that during the week. That's the bonus of having those experienced players, they help the other younger players grow and learn quickly and they have more confidence being around them as well."
Pressure as the Sharks coach
Plumtree has come under scrutiny for not producing results as the coach of the bok-laden Sharks outfit. He shared his thoughts on the pressures of being the coach of the side.
"[Laughing] you can ask Jake [White] he has got a quality side, you can ask Dobbo [John Dobson] he has also got a quality side. There is always pressure, we are in a pressure game. We all try to assemble a team that has got the best chance of winning and we have to let the boys go out there and play. Every job at the Sharks has got an element of pressure to it because that is the nature of the game. Do I let the pressure get to me? That is another conversation and I can tell you right now, I sleep well at night."
"I have been doing this for a long time, you know my journey and I understand the pitfalls of being a professional rugby coach and I also understand the joys of it as well. If you look at the last 6 months, we won two trophies. We got players that don't want to leave, we re-contracting really good players and attracting really good players so we are on the right path.
I don't let a weekend performance define what we are trying to do nor do I let a weekend performance define my coaching career. I don't know if a coach has ever said this to you but you have to find a balance and understand the highs and lows, and if you get too high and the low can be too low. You will probably find me when we win, I will have a couple of beers and when we lose, I will have a couple of beers...it's part of the job and I don't let it affect my night of sleep.
Nathan has over a decade of knowledge and experience, both as a former professional sportsperson and journalist. Nathan, a former radio sports presenter and producer is an award-winning community radio sports producer/presenter.