Rugby

Former World Cup winner, Sharks legend hails Plumtree appointment

Former Sharks legend Mark Andrews has hailed the re-appointment of John Plumtree as Sharks head coach a master-stroke.

Plumtree, who coached the Sharks between 2007 and 2012 earlier than leaving South Africa to work in Ireland, Japan and New Zealand, was on Thursday introduced because the crew’s new man in cost, taking up from Neil Powell.

Powell has been teaching the crew ever since Sean Everitt was let go on the finish of final yr.

Plumtree, who most lately labored below Ian Foster as an All Blacks assistant coach, will begin in his new job on July 1.

‘Great move’

Andrews, a World Cup winner with the Springboks in 1995, performed alongside Plumtree in a really profitable Sharks crew within the Nineteen Nineties.

“It’s a great move by the Sharks to bring Plum back,” enthused Andrews.

“The one factor is he is aware of the Sharks, their identification and what rugby is about in Durban. I feel they’d misplaced their identification a bit … however it’s arduous these days to construct a home-grown crew, however he’s somebody who nonetheless understands what it means to be a Sharks rugby participant.

Andrews added the very fact the 57-year-old had coached in Ireland and particularly New Zealand since final guiding the Sharks was an enormous constructive for the Durban-based aspect.

Mark Andrews performed for the Sharks all through his profession. Picture: Gallo Images

‘Experience’

“He’s now got 10 years more experience than he did the first time … and that experience comes from the All Blacks, from Ireland and Super Rugby (with the Hurricanes). He would have grown immensely as a coach and person in the last 10 years.”

Though the Sharks will lose Siya Kolisi and Thomas du Toit to abroad golf equipment on the finish of this season, they’ve managed to hold on to a number of different stars, amongst them Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Curwin Bosch, amongst others.

Who will lead the aspect subsequent yr with Kolisi and Du Toit gone will come all the way down to who Plumtree gels with one of the best, based on Andrews.

“The only person who will know who to pick as captain is the coach,” stated Andrews.

“He is the one who will work closest with the captain and they need to believe in the same things with regards to rugby and the way the coach wants to play. The captain will also have to have the respect of all the players.”

Andrews stated that with Plumtree now in cost, it was time for the Sharks to begin difficult for trophies once more.

“There are incredible players here, who wouldn’t want to live and work in Durban, and now with the right coaches in charge, there shouldn’t be a reason why the Sharks don’t compete in all the finals of the competition they play in.”

Dave Williams, a former assistant with the crew, will even return to the set-up alongside Plumtree.


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