Eben Etzebeth isn’t playing but that doesn’t mean that the Hollywoodbets Sharks team are heading to Pretoria for Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship semifinal against the Vodacom Bulls without any hope.
So says their coach John Plumtree, who would have recalled that his team has edged home in each of the last three meetings with the Bulls - and Etzebeth wasn’t there for any of them. Etzebeth, who led the Sharks last week against Munster, has been ruled out of the game because of a head knock sustained in training.
According to Plumtree, the knock isn’t too serious a setback to Etzebeth’s buildup to the international season, and he expects his skipper to be available to lead the Sharks should they reach next week’s Grand Final. And while many will feel that the Sharks’ chances took a severe knock with Etzebeth’s withdrawal from the game, Plumtree is not discounting his team being still alive in the competition when it goes into its final week.
“How much of a loss it it? Eben’s probably the best lock in the world, so it is a big loss,” said Plumtree.
“But the thing is, it’s a team game, one person doesn’t make this team and we’ve won games without Eben this year.”
JENKINS ALSO OUT
They have indeed, although usually the loss of the Springboks’ most capped player means the favourite’s tag swings quite emphatically to the other team, and that should be the case again for a game most pundits appear to be expecting the Bulls to win. That is particularly so given that the man Etzebeth started with in the second row in the quarterfinal against Munster, Jason Jenkins, also won’t be facing his erstwhile Bulls teammates.
“Jason is a big loss for us too. He has played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out so much. He’s played sometimes at four and sometimes at five. It is really disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment too. I think he deserves to be there,” said Plumtree.
“Obviously, Corne (Rahl) is a different player to Emile (van Heerden), in so many ways. Corne is more abrasive, and Emile is the ball winner and a smart player. He’s developing in his leadership role as well.”
Plumtree said that Etzebeth was already feeling a lot better after his head knock.
“He got a head knock at training but he’s feeling a lot better already,” said the Sharks coach.
“He took a knock in training and we decided that its best not to risk him this week so we made a pretty early call. He’s feeling a lot better and has been communicating with me and the team. I am not particularly concerned about him. I am pretty sure that if we go through he will be available next week.”