The Hollywoodbets Sharks will look at Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash with Cardiff Rugby as an opportunity to really throw everything at their Welsh hosts before the tournament takes a short break.
In the context of recent results, Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree
admitted that this match was vital for his team’s ambitions and psyche.
“Coming off what’s happened to us in Europe, it’s important for us to get a win,” he said from the team’s base in Cardiff. “We’re in a different competition now with the URC and we’re floating around mid-table; we want to keep pushing the top of that pile which makes this a massive game for us.
“As soon as we arrived here on Monday, our focus shifted from Bordeaux quickly, identifying what needs to be done now and we’ve worked hard this week to get organised for this game.”
Plumtree spoke of the determination in his side, saying, “We have to be hungry, we have a bit of a break coming up after this match and the players have to empty the tanks in this game after what happened against Bordeaux.
“I like to think we have a good plan in place this week in terms of our preparation and it’s just a case of the boys going out and executing that plan.”
Having named Vincent Tshituka as captain and lock, Plumtree explained that player development and versatility can only help both the player and his team.
“For me personally, it’s good that he can play lock and loose forward, he’s a big, strong man and the props have a lot of respect for him playing in that position in terms of what he can do at scrum time.
“To be able to play both roles is good for him for higher honours. He understands that role and although he’s a better 7 than a 4, right now with all of our injuries, we need him there.”
The relentless nature of the rugby calendar offers little time for reflection, but rather extends the demands on the players and coaching staff to constantly remain focused and to quickly move on from adversity which is something the Hollywoodbets Sharks are doing.
“It is tough [losing to Bordeaux], there is a lot of pride in the jersey. We were in the game for 45 minutes and looking back at the game, a lot of our skill sets weren’t good enough.
“The boys were in a little bit of shock after the game, none of us expected that, we don’t want that as a club, so firstly we have had to pick ourselves up mentally which is pretty tough for the young fellas.
“But we know we are not a bad team, we have a few boys back to help us out. We have lost a couple too, but those replacing them have come in with good energy and now it’s around the plan that we all believe in collectively, and reinforcing the rugby that we can play.
“We just need to play that rugby for longer periods of time. We made Bordeaux look pretty average in the first 12 minutes, but you’ve got to be able to sustain that.”
There is a lot of excitement around the youthful pairing of Ethan Hooker and Jurenzo Julius, two precociously talented centres with an average age of just 21.
“They’re both outstanding young players and good boys, they’re still at the stage where their focus is on their development, but it’s going to be nice to see them go together.
“It’s a spotlight on that midfield combination potentially for years to come at the Hollywoodbets Sharks and I thought the time was right to put them in and see what they can do. Having Francois Venter and Lukhanyo Am coming off the bench also offers us some security.”