Sharks head coach John Plumtree has named a 28-man traveling squad for two matches abroad. The first being the Investec Champions Cup pool match clash with Bordeaux Bègles at the 33 000 seater Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday as well as the United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff on the 25th January.
The 16 forwards and 12 backs exclude Vincent Koch, Jordan Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi who all sadly failed their HIA tests after Saturday’s match with Toulouse.
They will be monitored this week and hopefully they will be able to join the team ahead of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship game against Cardiff the following Saturday.
“A full-strength Sharks side with the guys we currently have out would have made our game against Toulouse a bit more interesting, but I can’t discredit the players we did have out there,” Plumtree explained.
“We have six or seven key players out at the moment and they would make a massive different to our team.”
Back in the side for this tour after varying injury and rest periods are prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, loose-forward James Venter, scrumhalf Grant Williams, centre Lukhanyo Am and wing Eduan Keyter.
“We played a great side, you could see they’re a class outfit, applying pressure not just through their defence and set-piece but continuity play and attack, some of it was outstanding,” Plumtree admitted of the weekend’s match.
“We couldn’t hold on to the ball for long enough periods in the first half and couldn’t build pressure, we were a bit too loose which was disappointing for me and that’s something we talked about at half-time. When we managed to hold on to the ball for longer periods in the second half, we were able to put them under pressure, particularly in the last 25 to 30 minutes.
“It was good to see us play some good rugby then, when we hung on to the ball more and were able to apply pressure.”
While it was a disappointing loss, the Sharks coach will be looking for his team to once again show determination and character this week.
“I’m proud of the effort they showed, everyone tried really hard and played their hearts out.”
Our 28- man touring squad for the #InvestecChampionsCup and @vodacom #URC matches 🦈
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) January 13, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/r7yluR0OJ0 pic.twitter.com/0xYjU5Rhs5
FORWARDS
BACKS
