For coach John Plumtree, 14 weeks of Absa Currie Cup rugby are behind him and a new challenge awaits with the knock-out rounds beckoning and home ground advantage secured thanks to the 45-30 win over Griquas on the weekend.
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Added to that, with Western Province failing to secure a five-pointer against the Lions, a huge amount of relief came out of the weekend’s action. “Province would have been under a fair bit of pressure going into their match, definitely,” said Plumtree after The Sharks had arrived in Durban on Saturday night, having heard the good news that they had finished top of the log – for the second consecutive season.
“I knew that if the Lions could come up with something similar to what they did against us, Province would struggle. Obviously I was a bit worried after the two tries they scored early on, but it all means nothing really, we’ve got to do the job this weekend.”
In energy-sapping heat in Kimberley, The Sharks showed why they are considered amongst the favourites to take the trophy at the end of October when they scored seven tries against a side who had been in the top four all tournament. Sadly, their semifinal dreams were dashed by a superior Sharks side, but in scoring four tries showed why they have gained the respect of every opponent this season and why they should be a force next year if they continue to build on the progress they have made this year.
“Griquas were tough and play some pretty attacking rugby,” said Plumtree in reference to the fact that they managed to score four tries and never gave up.
“I was always fairly confident we could score four tries, it was just about whether we could keep them out in that heat,” he added. Griquas were certainly up for the challenge, along with their own goals going into the match, but ultimately coming away with five log points, The Sharks coach concluded that: “It was job done.”
Both sides had gone into the game knowing that their hopes rested on playing attacking rugby and the reward that comes with it, and the fact that four tries were conceded did concern the coach, but not overly given the circumstances of the match – and the outcome.
“The whole time we talked about the fact that they would never give up, we knew they’d keep coming and although we didn’t quite have the intensity on defence that we probably wanted to, that’s something that happens when you’re scoring lots of tries.
“We weren’t sticking in the tackles,” added Plumtree, “we were making the contact but not wrapping up the tackle and that’s something we can work on. They’re the only team to have scored four tries against us this year and I’m pretty confident we can get our defence right this week.”
His team certainly didn’t lack for enthusiasm which was a big positive. The hard field of Kimberley, the hot and dry conditions and certainly the effort from the home side were factors that were always going to count against The Sharks.
“The boys were on the edge and I could see that,” he said. “We came up a day early and there was clearly a lot of want in the team and I think we played some fantastic rugby at times.”
Over the past couple of weeks Plumtree has had the difficult task of integrating his Springboks back, and making wholesale changes can certainly affect momentum and the dynamic already in the team. For The Sharks coach though, the pleasing aspect is that the team is getting to where he’d like it to be.
“At this stage of the season, just bringing those Boks back in, it’s great to see a few guys coming back into form. John Smit was good, so was JP. Obviously we’ve got a couple more guys coming back next week and that’s always encouraging. Jean Deysel came on, got a couple of turnovers and we’re hoping to have Bismarck back as well after injuring his ribs, he’s a pretty fast healer.”
But there is no point in looking backwards at this stage of the tournament he admitted – there is still plenty of rugby, important rugby, to be played. “My mind flicks straight away to the Cheetahs. They’re a side that’s hurt us in the past but we’ve got an opportunity to host a home final which is huge for everyone. But at the end of the day there are the Cheetahs in front of us and you can’t look too far past that.”
If the Sharks play like they did against the Griqua’s they will not host the final. They may be without Janmark and The Jan in the front row.
Although there are injury concerns , it seems the sharks might still have a full squad , which would include Bismark , Muller , Beast
despite all the reports flying around that they wont play
Just need one point over the Cheetahs this week. So cant see us leaking many tries. Going to be played more direct and very tight.
Just never count those Cheetahs out. They seem to have our number many times. Just hope Sharks win this. Another final at the Tank would be awesome.
Good luck to both teams.
@sharky_forever – Howzit mate, Have you heard any news on Bissie? See on Voldy that they say now that Bissie may play?
Neutraliseer vir Brussow, en die wedstryd is half-gewonne. Maar dit is makliker gesê as gedaan. Hang ook af wie die ref gaan wees … seker weer Watson, dit is mos ‘n tuiswedstryd, en dan kan hy mos in sy Sharks-geborgde vakansiehuis bly vir die naweek ? 😉
5 @bdb – “seker weer Kaplan”. Lyk my ‘Luke’ spook al klaar by my !
@Loosehead – @Puma – hiyas bro , firstly never write any team off
i made a call to an ex player friend of mine and he tells me bissy is fine , so to beast
concerns are muller
Dag loskoppietjie hoop ook dinger is goed daar by jou??….
by the way loskop you should know of all people here that what is past is in the past,? right???
what happens saturday is all that matter
@sharky_forever – 7
Well then that is good news. Just hope Bissie is 100% cause if we make the final we will need him more then. Especially if we are playing Bulls. Or WP who ever.
@bdb – Ek hoop dis Jonker. kan Sharks ook voel hoe voel dit om aan die verkeerde kant van sy fluitjie te staan.
Like hom nokkol. Neem wisselvallige besluite en maak vreemde beslissings.
@bdb – Goeie dag BDB , en nee dis nie spooke nie maar al daai papsak chardonay wat jy drink wat jou so baie stront laat praat :rotfl: :talktothehand: :rotfl:
amazing how the refs always help the sharks and cheat the bulls????? yeah right
@bdb – 5
LOL. You can say that again, keep Brussow in check and we should win. Just have memories of that game against them in Bloem in the S14 when Brussow won Cheetahs almost all the ball that day.
@isigidi – sigh the excuses already starting :evilgrin: :rotfl:
@Puma – we beat them recently with him in the team
they too should watch out for deysel , but its a 15 man game and on the day anything can happen,
I just hope we come fully prepared , the cheetahs are never easy and should always be resepcted
@Puma – Bissi moet sy gat roer. He is not good a player he was a season ago. I would personally like to see Beast, JS and the docter as front 3. Bissi is living dangerously close to being left out.
@sharky_forever – Huh? I’m provence boet.
If Jonker refs WP on Sat, I’ll definately take some extra oranges with. :devil:
@sharky_forever – 13
Sharks do respect Cheetahs they have beaten us many times.
Plum will have done the homework for sure. Also hope the injuries to Bissie and especially Beast are fine come Saturday. Then no more injuries please we will need them for the final if we make it.
@isigidi – 14
Look I too like John at hooker but Bissie is a great player. Rather have him than not boet.
@isigidi – i know boet and you didnt lose saturday because of jonker
a better team beat you on the day 😛
Cheers Sharky and Isigidi out of here now.
@sharky_forever – You are being far to nice and civilized. I really expect a little more hard nosed banter from you chokers.
10 @sharky_forever – hik !
@sharky_forever – Never said we lost due to Jonker and absolutely true, Lions were deserved winners on the day.
I think Alberts an Minni in tandem was awesome and even Herkie played a decent game.
No pal, I’m not a sourpoes. :razzmad:
@isigidi – @Loosehead – @bdb – :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
@isigidi – then show a little more love for jonker then :sarcasm: :rotfl:
@Loosehead – 20
:rotfl: No choking this weekend though Loosehead..hehe.
Okay with that I am out of here. Cheers all.
Wanneer hoor ons watter ref’s blaas saterdag, en wie en hoe word dit bepaal ?
Dis jammer juan smith is beseer dit sou nogal koel wees om te sien hoe hy vir jeanerie deysel maniere leer.ag wat hendro sal dit ma doen yster wat hy is :-))
@smallies72 – Die Haaie gaan :poop: !
Wat ok kwaai gaan wees is om te sien hoe die bok voorry pak gaan kry
@sharky_forever – Is that you Marius?
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