The End of the Road for John Dumbtree?

Public and Fan Sentiment on John Plumtree's Coaching at the Sharks

Mixed Reactions and High Expectations

The general sentiment among fans and observers regarding John Plumtree's coaching at the Sharks is mixed, with a notable undercurrent of frustration due to the team's inconsistent performances, especially given the high-profile talent in the squad.

1. Many fans have expressed disappointment, with some labeling the Sharks under Plumtree as "the worst-coached URC team," arguing that a squad filled with Springbok talent should be performing at a much higher level in both the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European competitions1.
2. The team has been criticized for a lack of cohesion, inconsistency, and underachievement, particularly in matches where they have been expected to dominate but have instead struggled or narrowly scraped wins2368.

Coaching Assessment and Achievements

Despite the criticism, Plumtree's tenure has not been without positives:

1. Under his leadership, the Sharks have won two trophies: the Currie Cup and the European Challenge Cup, marking significant milestones for the franchise56.
2. Plumtree has been credited with improving team culture, focusing on building stronger connections and camaraderie among players, which he identified as lacking when he took over5.
3. The coach himself has acknowledged the team's inconsistency and the need for improvement in areas such as game management and emotional intensity, often expressing both frustration and cautious optimism after matches238.

Player and Team Dynamics

1. The influx of Springbok players has added both pressure and opportunity. While their presence raises expectations, frequent changes in the lineup due to international duties have disrupted team chemistry, a challenge Plumtree has openly discussed6.
2. Plumtree has emphasised the importance of experienced players mentoring younger squad members, seeing long-term benefits in player development and squad depth6.

Pressure and Perspective

1. Plumtree is aware of the scrutiny and pressure that comes with coaching a "Galacticos"-like squad, but he maintains a balanced perspective, highlighting the progress made in retaining and attracting talent and not allowing short-term results to define the broader project at the Sharks6.
2. He is regarded as a respected coach with a history at the Sharks, and while there is frustration over recent league standings and performances, there is also recognition of the trophies won and the foundational work being done567.

Summary Table: Sentiment Overview

Conclusion

While John Plumtree has brought some success and positive cultural change to the Sharks, fan and public satisfaction remains tempered by the team's underwhelming league performances and inconsistency, especially given the star-studded roster. The consensus is that expectations are higher than what has been delivered so far, and continued improvement will be necessary to win over the broader supporter base123568.

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Plumtree was involved with a New Zealand Super Rugby side and the All Blacks for very short periods. He had good results in the past for the Sharks, but in his current stint as coach, any decent performances may be down to the players, rather than the game plan.

The players do not seem to understand the game plan, or it is just poor

I have a feeling that Sharks have too many big personalities for Plumb to handle.

They look like a team that leans too heavily on the individual status of players - We're amazing and we'll get it done.

Rooi is a Vissies fan, if I'm not mistaken, and even he was saying how painful it was to watch them on the weekend.

With their talent pool they should be crushing teams. Instead, they're super inefficient about almost everything they do, can hardly go a few phases without running out of ideas and have probably served up the worst games of the big 3 SA sides this year.

...the opposite of the Bulls.

Say what you want about Jake but he's timed the performance wave perfectly for the playoffs. The Bulls look a scary side right now. They've been a pleasure to watch in the second half of the season. The worst thing you can say about them is that they start suffering from an adrenaline dump when they're 40 points in the lead...lol

I say, get Ackerman to the Sharks and give Dobbo one more season at the Stompies. I feel like the Stormers have a crazy amount of built in flair and you need to compliment that with conservative type coach. That way, if they meet in the middle there'll be far less Galant syndrome doing the rounds on the field.

And start putting much more respect on Jake's name. MUCH MORE!

‘While head coach Ian Foster has retained his job, forwards coach John Plumtree and attack coach Brad Mooar have been fired at the conclusion of “robust and in-depth conversations” about ways to improve performance, NZR said in a statement.’

…………….

Why we went back to this man who was dumped by NZ has always been a mystery. The Sharks are way under performing their potential….even the Bomb squad front row isn’t functioning at their dominant best in Sharks’ jersies.

He is super shit - has a wealth of talent who play an awful brand of rugby - kick and hope for the best

One never sees any attacking play from the backs especially from structured play

Sack him - his selections are also very suspect

Plumtree is a fucken idiot - HOPELESSNESS..............

The fans must insist on him leaving, this is ridiculous. Their is no light at the end of the tunnel. He just has no clue what game plan he wants to play, or the players just don't understand this.

Not nice tociriticie only Plumtree while the backkine failed miserably due to the non-thinking playes at 10 abd 12. Masuku is thicj as a brick = Esterhuizen is thicker than one brick - more like a concrete slab.

I’m confused, were Esterhozen and Masuku playing in the first 3 Sharks matches?

Maybe Jake White will get another crack at the Sharks. He is someone who could come in and give the team direction. More of a shorter term gig until a longer term coach is obtained.

Jake White annoys many of the players, but is not a picnic. The Sharks need to deliver results, we dont care about team camrady if they are losing.

Jake White is like a Jon Mitchell type of coach. He can turn a team around very quickly, but their narcistic behavour usually ends in conflict.

Jake’s record suggests he could turn things around quickly….the Boks exit the 2003 WC in the QF and win the TN in 2004.

Jake ball would do well at the Sharks. They have the pack for it and, despite all his failings, Jordan has a massive boot.

Butbid prefer to see somebody else get a crack. Perhaps a Pretorius or even Meyer.

Stil think we were a touch hard on Jake after the URC final. The Bulls were playing easily the best rugby in SA up until they lost the last game.

Jake didn't believe in his own team though. The Bulls could absolutely have beaten Leinster, but they just capitulated and the coach had a clear defeatist attitude going into the game and afterwards. I don't get why in that case you don't go out and throw the kitchen sink at the opposition anyway if you really feel you don't have a chance to win. Why just go out and play no rugby at all? No, that's an attitude that would have gotten the Bulls nowhere except a playoff. They were lucky to face the hapless Sharks in the semi, otherwise they would have been knocked out there already because they were just as shit in that semi, completely changing their playing style to safety first kick and bash. What's the point in dominating a competition and then capitulating at the business end?

Yeah, it was weird Pakie. I remember numerous games earlier in the season where Bulls looked unstoppable...and then that vanished in the final games.

I guess that is where a guy like Rassie does well, because he's a motivator and a team guy. He is able to instil belief, which is confidence. And you'll never win anything without that confidence.

I mean, if the team were prepared to call for his sacking after the final, that tells you that they would not have been willing to die for him in the final because the relationship had already soured by then.

Could it be as simple as he lost the team's ear, they failed and then he used funding as an excuse? Seems the most likely explanation.

White will neve be appointed as Direcor of Rugby or Hed coach by the Sharks aftehsid ismisal by the Sin his firddt year of his similar appointment in 2014 and this time around his stint a Diercto of Ruby would not be repeated, The main shareholders became privately owned by Mvm - an American company and Supersport - who holds shares 51% is owned by MVM and combined with Supersport owns 74,5% of the shares. Unlike the situation in 2014 when Sharks Rugby owned 51% the shares and Supersport the remaineder of the Shares that situation shsrholding changed and is more in line with the Bulls ownership at present will want the franchise to be run dfferently from how it was run in 2014,

That suggestion is cetainl not go to tie in with SARU - as appointments is now consdered wiith Erasmus and in the case of the Sharks 9it will be a case of once bitten - twice shy. I think Ackerman's appointment as approved by Erasmus - since Ackerman was already employed by SARU hen he was apponted as Dorecotr of Bulls rug by.

So who would Erasmus advised t be appoined as Sharks coach - very likely one of Erasmus present assistants. It must also bear in mind that the four Directors of frachises organizaionally already falls under Erasmus since 2018. so even though the franchies make the appointments it will not be made wthout consultaion with SARU's Direcotr f Rugby - at present a acant post temporarily hedk by Erasmus as Head coach of Spring boks - like th case was in 2018-19.

So who would be cosnsidered to be Sharks Rugby coach - personally there are 3 options - Nienaber, Swys or Jones - if Plumtree is to be replaced. But Swys' health probelms of 2019 would probably paly a role in hi case.and he may be reluctnt to take up the Sharks troubled post.

So at present the is no uncertinty whether Plumtree will be replaced during the present tournament series - more likely to happen at the end of the present series. Rupert as majority shareholder in Supersport is also to be borne in mind - SARU will always bear in mind what Rupert recommends and so would MVM.

Another bit of a question - who pays the salaries of Sacha and Willemse - not the cashstrapped Stormers - my guess it is in fact Remgro who would match anything other franchises or interational team may be able offer. I am sure a rather small number of people actually run SARU and the 4 SA franchises. The only ranchise not uner similar control is the Lions - but that may also chang e unless the fiancial management si becoming more of a problem it already is. Unles that position is maintaied or improved watch out for changes of the financing of the Lions as well.