Plum: Siya went for the win
03/30/2025 12:15 AM
Coach John Plumtree says the Sharks paid the price for poor execution against Leinster on Saturday, and not skipper Siya Kolisi opting to chase victory over a possible draw.
The Sharks lost 10-7 at Kings Park, matching the Vodacom URC leaders physically but unforced errors proving costly for Plumtree's charges.
Trailing 5-0 at the break, the hosts clawed their way back when Bongi Mbonambi crashed over for a converted try, only for Kolisi's bold decision in the final minutes to backfire.
"It was a tough arm-wrestle, two sides that were physical," Plumtree said. "They scored one more try than us, and that was just one more opportunity they took than us.
"We had our opportunities inside the 22 and didn't come away with points They've got a real aggressive line speed, and we knew that was coming. At times we handled it, and times we didn't. It was the same for them as well.
RECAP: Leinster hook sloppy Sharks
"This game was a battle up front, a battle of two aggressive defences. Both sides made a lot of mistakes, but again, it just comes down to them taking one more opportunity on us."
The Sharks spurned a chance to level the score when Kolisi opted to kick for the corner rather than take the points from a penalty. The ensuing lineout drive was held up, handing Leinster victory.
"I don't like losing so I probably would've preferred to go for the posts, but it was Siya's decision on the field; he wanted to go for four points [for a win]," Plumtree said. "It cost us one point, him not doing it, but if we scored then there would be a different conversation.
"Frustrating that we got held up, the Irish are masters at stuffing your ball up in those types of moments.
"It's feeling the moment, you know, and often the players feel different out on the park than what we feel in the coaches' box. So, they felt like they could do it.
“Bongi scored off the back of a maul earlier, that would've still been on Siya's mind as well. We just didn't execute it."
Rate your Sharks in Durban showdown
Despite dominance in the scrums, the Sharks struggled under the high ball, an area Plumtree admitted remains a concern. "It’s frustrating that we don’t win a game of rugby based around that type of dominance up front.
"Contestable kicking, they probably got on top of us in that department as well. It’s an area that’s bugging us."
The Sharks remain fourth on the log with four league rounds left before the playoffs. Their focus shifts to defending their EPCR Challenge Cup title, starting with a round 16 clash against Lyon in France next Sunday, before the URC resumes in mid-April.
"We're ambitious, we want to win it [the URC]. We want to win a big trophy and right now, we're still in it," Plumtree said.
"We just have to make sure when we get back into the URC, which is a tour to Ulster and Edinburgh away, that we play really good rugby over there."
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Plum: Siya went for the win appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
