John Plumtree, head coach of the Hollywoodbets Sharks, shared his pleasure over the team’s hard-fought victory against the Blue Bulls on Saturday, all while acknowledging the absence of key players. He hinted at the potential return of Siya Kolisi for their upcoming clash with the Stormers next weekend.

Kolisi was taken out of the lineup on Thursday due to a calf injury, leading to Nick Hatton stepping in at the number 8 position.

Despite this setback, the Durban side clinched their fourth straight home win in the United Rugby Championship, narrowly overcoming Jake White’s team 20-17 in a thrilling encounter in Durban.

The closely contested match, characterized by excellent set-piece play, propelled the Sharks to fourth place on the table with 23 points.

Reflecting on his team’s performance, the head coach acknowledged several crucial moments that turned the tide in their favor.

“There were pivotal moments in the match where small details altered the outcome for us. I take pride in this victory as it may be our most important win without the majority of our Springboks, particularly in the backline,” stated the Sharks head coach.

The reigning Challenge Cup champions entered Saturday’s showdown missing several Springbok forwards, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, and eight other players due to injuries.

Despite this, they managed to topple a strong Bulls team and achieve victory for the first time in two years. Plumtree commended the leadership displayed by veteran Ox Nche.

“Ox’s influence on the pack, especially among younger teammates, cannot be undervalued. He consistently motivated them, though losing Ethan {Hooker} was a setback, as he was performing well and making solid tackles as our fourth or fifth hooker,” noted the 59-year-old former All-Black.

As the Sharks prepare for their upcoming fixtures, the challenges loom larger amidst their injury struggles, especially with a match against the DHL Stormers on the horizon.

In a concerning update, the New Zealand coach mentioned his hopes of seeing several players return from injury ahead of their tough clash with John Bobson this Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to having some players back next week. While I’m unsure of the exact names, it would be fantastic if Siya could return. We’re also optimistic about Emile Van Heerden, and Dylan Richardson is on our radar. Unfortunately, Ethan {Hooker} will now be sidelined due to a concussion, so we’ll have to wait and see who’s available,” he remarked.

He further added, “It’s my duty to finalize the team. Going to Cape Town to take on the Stormers is an arduous task.”

In contrast to the previous season, the Durban-based side has managed to maintain a series of positive results despite injury challenges and currently sits in a better position in the URC standings compared to this time last year.