Sharks head coach John Plumtree has tempered celebrations of Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup win in Durban with concerns over further injuries and a chaotic final quarter.
The Sharks opened their 2024-25 European cup campaign with a dominant 39-21 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Kings Park.
However, the match ended with loose forwards Vincent Tshituka and James Venter having joined Lukhanyo Am and Gerbrandt Grobler on the Sharks’ mounting injury list.
“We have suffered a number of serious injuries, and this victory is therefore probably expensive,” Plumtree said post-match. “The loss of Vincent and James brought about changes in our defensive line. Dylan Richardson, actually a hooker, had to come up as a flanker.
Despite these setbacks, Plumtree praised the team’s adaptability. “I am pleased with the way we adapted and held on for the win. We even played some really good rugby at times, despite the adjustments we had to make.”
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The match’s final stages tested the Sharks’ resilience. Down to just 12 players following yellow cards for Eben Etzebeth, Emile van Heerden, and Eduan Keyter, the Sharks weathered Exeter’s pressure.
“The last 10 minutes turned into a circus when we had to make do with only 12 players. However, I think we managed those last 10 minutes effectively,” Plumtree said.
A standout for the Sharks was Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who scored twice and was named Man of the Match. Plumtree lauded Kolisi’s performance, particularly his impact from the No 8 position.
“I like Siya at No 8. It gives him more time with the ball in hand,” he explained. “Siya is such a skilled player, intelligent, and he really understands the game. So you want to see him play with the ball as much as possible. I like him there, and he enjoys it.”
Next up for the Sharks is a trip to England to face Leicester Tigers in round two, which will test the depth of the squad. “We will now be forced to bring in players from the wider group, and that will give an indication of how good the group really is,” Plumtree said.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
