Jason Jenkins of the Sharks wins line out against Thibaud Flament of the Stade Toulousain during the Investec European Rugby Championships Cup match at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on 11 January 2025. Picture: Samuel Shivambu, BackpagePix
Mike Greenaway
On Sunday afternoon, it is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire for the Sharks when they tackle a red-hot Bordeaux side in front of 20,000 frenzied fans at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in a Champions Cup fixture (3pm kick-off).
It is make-or-break for the Sharks in the rugby world’s elite competition — they need at least one point to qualify for the last 16 play-offs.
Last week, the Sharks hosted arguably the best club/provincial side in the world, Toulouse, in sweaty Durban, and today it is the team that rivals them for that title.
Bordeaux are unbeaten in the Champions Cup and top of the table in France’s Top 14, a point ahead of their fierce rivals, Toulouse.
This would be the toughest of tasks for the Sharks at the best of times, but when coach John Plumtree announced his team for the match, he added an injury list of 15 players.
That list includes seven Springboks.
That is a full team of players that are not available and you can understand the precarious position the Sharks are in on Sunday afternoon.
“Over the last four weeks, the challenge for me has been the amount of disruptions we have had in our preparations,” Plumtree said after revealing that two loose forwards, Vincent Tshituka and James Venter, had been injured in training this week.
“We have faced week after week of players pulling out, requiring us to make last-minute changes.
“That is when it gets difficult for the coach. But this team is proud of being adaptable. One guy goes down and another steps up,” the coach said.
“We have gone through a fair amount of adversity.
“We lost a game to the Stormers that we could have won; we played in Durban in extreme heat and battled away against a very good French team.
“We never gave up which is very important to me. If we have that same attitude today I will be happy, and then we can look forward to a big (URC) clash with Cardiff in Wales (next week).”
Last season the Sharks had a dismal start to the United Rugby Championship before a late rally that culminated in them clinching the Challenge Cup, which is second tier to the Champions Cup.
Can the Sharks rally again to clinch a trophy? Plumtree said this season is a different animal.
“Last year was different in that we were out of one competition (the URC) and were looking hard at the other (the Challenge Cup),” he said.
“This year we are in both, but the difference is the injuries.
“When you have a team of players out, it becomes stressful for the coach. All I am looking forward to is getting through this patch and getting the team back together.
“I am hoping that over the next six to eight weeks we will have everyone back and then we can have a late push at one of the competitions, at least.
“But we need to have some bodies back. Right now we are scratching for players and I am using youngsters I had not planned to use in this tournament.”
Speaking of bodies back, the forgotten hero of the victories in the Challenge and Currie Cup finals, Siya Masuku, is back at flyhalf, even if it is by default.
Plumtree’s preferred flyhalf this season, Jordan Hendrikse, is injured and Masuku is in from the cold.
“With all the disruptions we have had, most of the big players are out of the backline but this is a big opportunity for Siya and he is raring to go.” Plumtree said.
“He has had a good couple of days and he will feel he has a point to prove, but ultimately it is down to what type of ball he gets.
“It is up to the rest of us to give him plenty of options.
“The pack is going to have to generate the momentum to allow Siya to play his natural game,” Plumtree continued.
“I want him to nail his basics and to communicate well with the team. I want him to keep us on the front foot as much as he can. He is looking forward to it.”
Sharks team: 15 Yaw Penxe 14 Eduan Keyter 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 Francois Venter 11 Ethan Hooker 10 Siya Masuku 9 Grant Williams 8 Siya Kolisi (capt) 7 Manu Tshituka 6 Phepsi Buthelezi 5 Jason Jenkins 4 Corne Rahl 3 Trevor Nyakane 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester 17 Ox Nche 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Jeandre Labuschagne 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Jaden Hendrikse 22 Hakeen Kunene.