Mike Greenaway
Last week, Sharks coach John Plumtree said he would wait until after the tour finale against Benetton to make decisions on how to bring back a host of Springboks for Saturday’s home game against champions Glasgow.
No doubt a number of decisions have become clearer for the coach after a fatigued Sharks side delivered a sloppy performance, going down 38-10 to the previously winless Italians.
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Plumtree’s Boks have not played since September 28 at Mbombela, and judging by social media, they have enjoyed fun in the sun — and deservedly so after their Rugby Championship heroics. But the vacation is over, and superstars Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, and Grant Williams will report to Sharks training today.
That is one heck of a band of reinforcements and their availability comes not a moment too soon given the listless showing in Treviso. Vincent Tshituka’s weary men looked every bit a side that has been on the road for five weeks, with stops in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Galway, Newport, and Treviso.
Plumtree said last week that he had been chatting to the Springbok contingent on an individual basis so that he could gauge their health and enthusiasm.
It would have been music to Plumtree’s ears when Etzebeth said he was “dying to get back on the pitch.”
Skill levels drop when bodies are tired and at the weekend the Sharks made error after error. It was a lacklustre performance that was miles off the intensity they showed at the start of their “tour” when they won tight Currie Cup matches against the Bulls and the Lions.
A disappointed Plumtree said his team seemed incapable of finishing off opportunities.
“We weren’t good enough tonight. We had too many unforced errors at crucial times, particularly in their 22-metre area when we had opportunities to build pressure.”
“In the second half, we fought hard to get territory and possession but we just weren’t clinical enough to do anything with it.
“It’s something we’re going to have to look at. We were nowhere near ruthless enough” Plumtree added.
To be fair to the Sharks, Benetton were impressive in how they shut down the Sharks’ attacks.
“I thought Treviso’s defence was outstanding,” the coach said. “They scrambled well, they got off the line and put pressure on us and we didn’t handle that well.”
Plumtree said his team couldn’t be faulted for effort.
“I don’t think there was any lack of trying, I think we were working hard, but it was just individuals…some defensive lapses and just not a clinical enough performance.”
Plumtree admitted that the time on the road took its toll.
“We’re all just looking forward to getting home now, we’ve been away for around five weeks if you think about the Currie Cup as well,” he said.
“We want to get home to our families and it will be good to reconnect with everyone back in Durban. We are looking forward to having a home game.”
The Sharks have a challenging fortnight ahead of them. First up is a Glasgow side that is rediscovering the form that won them the title and next week the 2023 champions, Munster, will be in town.