The Sharks’ excellent run in the Challenge Cup has added a glimmer of hope to a bleak first half of their Vodacom URC campaign, writes DYLAN JACK.
Where they stand:
URC: 16th, 9 points
Challenge Cup: 1st in Pool 1, round of 16
There was plenty of optimism at Kings Park when John Plumtree returned for his second stint as head coach. His first as a coach in Durban saw the Sharks progress to the 2007 Super Rugby final and win the Currie Cup in 2008, their first domestic title since 1996.
However, the work ahead of Plumtree quickly became clear when the Sharks endured a winless tour. Defeats to defending champions Munster (21-34) and Irish giants Leinster (34-13) were followed by scrappy losses to Ospreys (19-5) and Zebre (12-10), the Italian minnows beating the Sharks to earn a first win in 18 months.
Upon returning to Durban, the Sharks lost 13-12 to Conancht in a game they dominated and probably should have won, before finally opening their account in a 69-14 demolition of Dragons. However, any momentum picked up from the win against the Welsh side was quickly halted in a 44-10 loss to Bulls in Pretoria.
The Challenge Cup provided some respite as the Sharks kicked off their campaign with a 45-5 victory over Pau, but this was again followed by a defeat, this time to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Bonus-point victories against Oyonnax and Dragons saw the Sharks progress to the round of 16 as the Challenge Cup’s highest-ranked team.
Back in the URC, the Sharks produced arguably their best performance of the season in the narrow 16-15 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town, but followed it up with a drab and error-prone showing against the Lions in Durban, which has left Plumtree’s side bottom of the table and 16 points outside the top eight.
Best signing:
Injuries and suspensions have meant that the Sharks have yet to see much of the eight players signed ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Arguably the Sharks’ most consistent signing has been Coenie Oosthuizen. The veteran prop’s return to Kings Park was not met with much fanfare, but has been vital given the injury to Vincent Koch, who is yet to make his Sharks debut due a knee problem suffered during the 2023 World Cup.
Oosthuizen has shored up the Sharks’ scrum and the 34-year-old was solid against the Stormers, one of the URC’s best teams in this department.
Best result:
Ironically, the Sharks’ best performances of the season both came in losses: to Connacht in Durban and the Stormers in Cape Town.
However, their best result so far has been the Challenge Cup win against Dragons in Newport. Going into the game with a home last-16 match already secured, the Sharks could easily have phoned it in, but they roared back from behind in challenging conditions to collect all five points.
Remaining fixtures:
17 February: Stormers (h)
2 March: Lions (a)
23 March: Ulster (h)
30 March: Edinburgh (h)
7 April: Zebre (h), Challenge Cup playoff
19 April: Glasgow (a)
26 April: Scarlets (a)
11 May: Benetton (h)
18 May: Cardiff (h)
1 June: Bulls (h)
Mid-season prediction:
It’s a long way back for the Sharks in the URC. 16 points is a massive gap to make up with nine games remaining, five of those at Kings Park. Unless there is a dramatic drop in form for the teams above them, it’s difficult to see the Sharks getting into the top eight.
The return of Koch, Bongi Mbonambi and a few other key players from injuries will give the Sharks a much-needed boost, but, still they face an uphill battle to qualify for the URC playoffs.
On the other hand, it’s easy to see the Sharks going on a good run in the Challenge Cup, given the favourable draw. A final against the Sale Sharks looks likely and at full strength, Plumtree’s side should be favourites for that one.
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