Despite snagging a win in their first match of the URC season against the Scarlets with a score of 29-19, Sharks coach John Plumtree isn’t ready to declare his team in peak form. The victory at Kings Park did bump the Durban squad up a couple of notches in the standings from 14th to 12th, but Plumtree’s post-game comments revealed a team still searching for its groove.
“We looked like we were going to open them up a few times, but then an offload didn’t stick or the pass wasn’t quite there,” Plumtree lamented, indicating a side that hasn’t found its rhythm yet. “We still look a little bit like a side that hasn’t fully gelled. We’re not totally collective at the moment.”
“They were really good at slowing it down.”
Plumtree gave props to the Scarlets for their physical play and tactical acumen, which stymied the Sharks’ ability to speed up the game. The inclusion of power players like Sam Lousi and Jake Ball, he noted, bolstered the Scarlets’ defensive efforts significantly. Plumtree also expressed frustration with his team’s lapses, which kept the Scarlets in contention longer than necessary. “We started well but conceded some soft tries again – a dropped kick-off, a handling error, not exiting accurately. That’s putting ourselves under pressure through poor execution.”
In contrast, Plumtree highlighted some positives, particularly in the set-piece area where the team has shown marked improvement—a testament to the work of assistant coaches Warren Whiteley and Philip Lemmer.
“We just don’t look like a side that’s really clicking yet.”
With various player combinations and some key players not fully up to speed, Plumtree acknowledged the ongoing challenge. “Our playmakers have been moving around – Siya Masuku, Jordan Hendrikse, and Jean Smith have all played at 10 – so the backs haven’t quite clicked yet,” he explained, optimistic yet realistic about the team’s prospects once they solidify their dynamics.
The Sharks now face a five-week hiatus before their next match against Connacht in Galway. With the Springboks touring Europe, Plumtree noted the selection would hinge on player availability. “We’ll have to prepare for Connacht without the Boks, and use them only if they’re available and lightly raced,” he stated, hinting at the challenges of the Northern Hemisphere’s notorious late-year weather and the strains of travel and long hotel stays.
As the Sharks work through their teething issues, the season ahead promises either a demonstration of their potential prowess or a test of their resilience in facing and overcoming early adversities.
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Despite snagging a win in their first match of the URC season against the Scarlets with a score of 29-19, Sharks coach John Plumtree isn’t ready to declare his team in peak form. The victory at Kings Park did bump the Durban squad up a couple of notches in the standings from 14th to 12th, but Plumtree’s post-game comments revealed a team still searching for its groove.
“We looked like we were going to open them up a few times, but then an offload didn’t stick or the pass wasn’t quite there,” Plumtree lamented, indicating a side that hasn’t found its rhythm yet. “We still look a little bit like a side that hasn’t fully gelled. We’re not totally collective at the moment.”
“They were really good at slowing it down.”
Plumtree gave props to the Scarlets for their physical play and tactical acumen, which stymied the Sharks’ ability to speed up the game. The inclusion of power players like Sam Lousi and Jake Ball, he noted, bolstered the Scarlets’ defensive efforts significantly. Plumtree also expressed frustration with his team’s lapses, which kept the Scarlets in contention longer than necessary. “We started well but conceded some soft tries again – a dropped kick-off, a handling error, not exiting accurately. That’s putting ourselves under pressure through poor execution.”
In contrast, Plumtree highlighted some positives, particularly in the set-piece area where the team has shown marked improvement—a testament to the work of assistant coaches Warren Whiteley and Philip Lemmer.
“We just don’t look like a side that’s really clicking yet.”
With various player combinations and some key players not fully up to speed, Plumtree acknowledged the ongoing challenge. “Our playmakers have been moving around – Siya Masuku, Jordan Hendrikse, and Jean Smith have all played at 10 – so the backs haven’t quite clicked yet,” he explained, optimistic yet realistic about the team’s prospects once they solidify their dynamics.
The Sharks now face a five-week hiatus before their next match against Connacht in Galway. With the Springboks touring Europe, Plumtree noted the selection would hinge on player availability. “We’ll have to prepare for Connacht without the Boks, and use them only if they’re available and lightly raced,” he stated, hinting at the challenges of the Northern Hemisphere’s notorious late-year weather and the strains of travel and long hotel stays.
As the Sharks work through their teething issues, the season ahead promises either a demonstration of their potential prowess or a test of their resilience in facing and overcoming early adversities.