sportskeeda
Sharks coach John Plumtree is confident that Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is thoroughly enjoying his rugby after scoring his fourth try of the season for the Durban-based team.
In their opening match of the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday at Kings Park Stadium, the Sharks secured a 39-21 victory over the English team Exeter Chiefs, thanks to a total of five tries, four of which were scored in the first half. Kolisi, playing in the number 8 position, had a significant impact by contributing two tries to help maintain the Sharks’ unbeaten home record. Read more here.
“I hold a great deal of respect for Siya,” Plumtree remarked following the match.
“He’s a savvy rugby player with an excellent grasp of the game. It’s essential that we get him the ball as often as possible, which is why I value having him on the field.”
“He appears to be relishing his role at number 8. With Eben sidelined and loose forwards Vincent Tshituka and James Venter unavailable, Siya’s position is incredibly crucial for our team.”
Kolisi, a renowned figure in global sports, made his comeback to the Sharks at the start of this season after a challenging period with Racing 92 in France, where he opted to end his contract and return to South Africa after just one year.
He had previously joined the French club at the beginning of the last season after departing from the Sharks but faced criticism from the Racing chairman, which spurred his return to South Africa.
“It seems like he’s genuinely enjoying his time playing here. We’re excited to have him back, and his performances have been remarkable. It’s uplifting for him,” Plumtree commented.
In his four matches for the Sharks this season, three of which he played at number 8, Kolisi has achieved victories in all, including three games with the Springboks during the Autumn Nations Series in November.
Despite their comfortable win, the Sharks encountered disciplinary issues, at one point fielding only 12 players due to yellow cards issued to Eduan Keyter, Emile van Heerden, and Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth.
Their strong start, characterized by four first-half tries, proved critical as they faced significant pressure in the closing moments of the game.
“The try they scored just before halftime was rather easy, wasn’t it?” Plumtree reflected. “It was a poor lineout, and we were leading by 10-12 points at halftime. We managed to score again early in the second half, but the final 20 minutes were quite frantic. Playing with only 12 men at times was tough, but I think we navigated those last 10 minutes effectively. We kept them out several times and managed to gain some territory, but we need to evaluate why we found ourselves in that position, as we don’t want to encounter such situations again.”
