The Sharks go into the new season with a new coach and some notable signings.
The Sharks sneaked into last season’s URC playoffs in eighth place but were hammered 35-5 by Leinster in the Dublin quarter-final, writes Oliver Keohane. The Durbanites will have to overcome a pretty tough start to have any hopes of changing their fortunes under Plumtree, who has returned for a second stint as head coach.
The Sharks’ 2023-24 URC campaign begins on the road against defending champions Munster, and it’s uphill from there as they travel to the Irish capital for a rematch against Leinster. Playing two of the competition’s strongest sides in the opening two rounds presents an incredible challenge for the Sharks, but also an opportunity to make an early statement under new leadership.
The Sharks squad is teeming with talent, topped up by big-name off-season acquisitions in flyer Aphiwe Dyantyi, Coenie Oosthuizen and Francois Hougaard, and current Springbok scrum anchor Vincent Koch, who has been outstanding for Saracens in recent seasons.
FACT FILE
Coach: John Plumtree
Captain: Lukhanyo Am
2022-23 log finish: 8th (quarter-finalists)
KEY PLAYER
In 2018, Aphiwe Dyantyi sizzled on the left wing for the Lions and the Springboks, earning 13 Test caps and scoring six tries before testing positive for performance-enhancing substances. Dyantyi’s doping ban has come to an end and he is still only 29 years old. While the Sharks have offered Dyantyi a rugby lifeline, the winger – likely hungrier than ever – has so much to offer them. His arrival at the Sharks is timely, in the wake of Thaakir Abrahams’ exit to France, and the prospect of him playing alongside Aphelele Fassi is exciting. Rassie Erasmus has already expressed his hopes of picking Dyantyi for the Springboks again, giving the player further incentive.
PLAYERS IN
Diego Appollis (Pumas)
George Cronjé (Cheetahs)
Aphiwe Dyantyi (free agent)
Francois Hougaard (Saracens)
Vincent Koch (Stade Français)
Siya Masuka (Cheetahs)
Coenie Oosthuizen (Sale)
Ig Prinsloo (Pumas)
PLAYERS OUT
Thaakir Abrahams (Lyon)
Lourens Adriaanse (retired)
Thembelani Bholi (Valence Romans)
Thomas du Toit (Bath)
Mpilo Gumede (Bulls)
Siya Kolisi (Racing 92)
Kuthu Mchunu (Bulls)
Carlü Sadie (Bordeaux)
Ben Tapuai (Bordeaux)
Henco Venter (Glasgow)
Fred Zeilinga (Bourg-en-Brasse)
Liam Zocchi-Dommann (Zebre)
FAST FACT
The Sharks scored five tries from kicks last season, the fourth-most in the tournament.
URC FIXTURES
21 October vs Munster (a)
28 October vs Leinster (a)
3 November vs Ospreys (a)
10 November vs Zebre (a)
18 November vs Connacht (h)
25 November vs Dragons (h)
2 December vs Bulls (a)
23 December vs Lions (h)
30 December vs Stormers (a)
17 February vs Stormers (h)
2 March vs Lions (a)
23 March vs Ulster (h)
30 March vs Edinburgh (h)
19 April vs Glasgow (a)
26 April vs Scarlets (a)
11 May vs Benetton (h)
18 May vs Cardiff (h)
1 June vs Bulls (h)
– This article first appeared in the October issue of SA Rugby magazine. The November issue goes on sale this Friday.
