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“The Bulls also contributed positively to the game and credit to them. They just don’t lie down and they came back and had us worried for a time until we scored those two late tries. They were dangerous when they had territory.”
Coach of the defeated Blue Bulls, Frans Ludeke agreed, saying, “It was a very good game of rugby with both teams playing positive rugby. I think the changes [made by Plumtree] worked well for them. They were dangerous in broken play even though we defended well. Their new combinations in the backline worked well and they certainly deserved to win.”
Speaking about the changes in the backline, the victorious coach added, “I was delighted that the changes worked so well. It is a pleasing reward for the coaching staff and players.”
He admitted that he was happy with the effort provided by Patrick Lambie who was shifted to inside centre from the fullback position but warned against making a hero out of the youngster too soon.
“I admit I was a bit nervous – I did throw him in at the deep end - but he he did very well. He has all the qualities needed when playing in the thick of the action: vision and a long passing game. He has good balance and he showed that in shrugging off tackles and setting up a try for Keegan Daniel. His tackling is also accurate and his kicking adds another dimension. But I don’t want to blow smoke, these are early days and this is just the start for him.
“I though all the backs did well. Charl McLeod did very well at scrumhalf, I thought Steve Meyer dictated play cleverly and Louis Ludik, JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo also came through well.” For the scorer of two tries and Absa Man of the Match, Mvovo, Plumtree added that, “He is a genuine challenge for JP and Odwa.”
Hooker Craig Burden (pictured) also added some barn-storming as well as elusive runs and was denied on no less than two occasions by the TMO aside from scoring an important try.
“Craig Burden gave us real go-forward and that was pleasing,” said Plumtree. “We have not got too many big ball-carriers and Craig gave us that momentum.”
The good news is that The Sharks will continue to increase their depth as players return from injury almost on a weekly basis. Against Griquas, it was Louis Ludik. On Saturday night, it was JP Pietersen and Plumtree confirmed that Willem Alberts and Odwa Ndungane could be back for the Pumas game with Jean Deysel possibly returning for the Free State game the following week.
“With a bigger squad, there is going to be real competition for places and this makes my job harder which is good – a nice headache for any coach to have.”
