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John Plumtree, the coach of the Hollywoodbets Sharks, conveyed his pleasure with the team’s victory over the Blue Bulls on Saturday, even with several key players absent. He mentioned that Siya Kolisi might make his return for their upcoming clash against the Stormers next weekend.
Kolisi was pulled from the lineup on Thursday due to a calf strain and was substituted by Nick Hatton in the number 8 role.
Despite this setback, the Durban team notched their fourth consecutive home win in the United Rugby Championship, triumphing over Jake White’s squad 20-17 in an exhilarating match held in Durban.
The closely contested game, defined by exceptional set-piece execution, has propelled the Sharks to fourth place on the table with 23 points.
Reflecting on his team’s display, the head coach acknowledged several crucial moments that turned the tide in their favor.
“There were significant moments in the game where small details altered the outcome in our favor. I feel a sense of pride because this could be our most notable victory in the absence of a majority of our Springboks, particularly in our backline,” said the head coach of the Sharks.
The reigning Challenge Cup champions entered Saturday’s match missing several Springbok forwards, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, among eight other players sidelined with injuries.
Nevertheless, having overcome a strong Bulls team and achieving a win for the first time in two years, Plumtree commended the leadership displayed by veteran player Ox Nche.
“Ox’s influence on the pack, especially with the younger players, cannot be underestimated. He consistently motivated them, and losing Ethan {Hooker} was a blow since he was performing well and making big tackles as our fourth or fifth hooker,” remarked the 59-year-old former All-Black.
As they prepare for their next match against the DHL Stormers, the Sharks are facing increasingly difficult fixtures amid ongoing injury challenges.
In an alarming update, the New Zealand coach mentioned his hopes for the return of a few players from injury ahead of their challenging game against John Bobson this Saturday.
“We’re expecting to have some fit players back next week. While I’m not entirely sure who they will be, we’re hopeful that Siya will return to contention. We’re also looking at Emile Van Heerden, and Dylan Richardson is on our radar. Unfortunately, Ethan {Hooker} is now ruled out due to a concussion, so we’ll have to wait and see who is available,” he noted.
He added, “It’s my responsibility to finalize the team. Traveling to Cape Town to conquer the Stormers is always a formidable challenge.”
In contrast to the previous season, the Durban-based team has maintained a streak of positive results despite injury hurdles, currently standing in a better position in the URC rankings than at this point last year.
