Sharks boss John Plumtree reflects on frustrating but improved season

The Durban side finished the pool stages in third place, hosted a quarter-final at Hollywoodbets Kings Park where they beat Munster and contested their first-ever semi-final in the competition, losing to the Bulls.

A near-faultless home campaign underlined how much of a fortress the Bok-laden squad created at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, making it almost impossible for visiting sides to win in Durban.

Defeating the three previous champions – the Stormers, Munster and Glasgow Warriors – in consecutive games was also a noteworthy achievement that proved they can fight.

Injuries didn't help their campaign. In February, some 19 players were sidelined. But nonetheless, they earned 13 victories out of their 18 pool matches.

"It was a tough season and I've learned a lot in my second year in the United Rugby Champion," Plumtree told the Sharks' website.

"Last year, I didn't know anything about the URC as a coach, I had a new coaching staff, we had players exiting the team and then we went about strengthening the squad. We brought some good players in and we finished at this point, so yes, this has been a better season. But we have to work out how we can do better in the Champions Cup, especially coming off the back of a massive Springbok campaign.

"There has been a lot of publicity about how poor the South African teams were in this competition, we have to work out how we can be better. The players really want to compete in that tournament, they want to be on the big stage, but we have to work out how we can do it.

"We had 18, 19 injuries at one stage, there was a bit of a crisis and we worked our way through and got to this point. Not having Grant Williams or Eben Etzebeth for the semi-final, two of our best players, was probably tough for the boys. Particularly after the November international season.

"Then there were the Champions Cup games, then we had our Boks back but they were tired, so competing with players who had played 14, 15 internationals is a real challenge for some players."

Plumtree admitted that one of the biggest challenges was having a large group of Springboks and navigating them through a busy URC and Champions Cup season.

"So it's about navigating that period with the rest of the team when you don't have those players available and then when you do get everyone back, it's where you're sitting on the log, how you can progress towards qualifying for quarters, semis and finals in both competitions, " he added.

"The key for us it to make sure that we've got the depth in the squad to be able to do well without them. I think we showed that this year.

"It's going to be a continual challenge for us to keep strengthening the squad. I think we've done really well this year when you think about some of the wins we've had with this team, when we weren't full-strength by any means and still picked up victories.

"Coaching the Sharks side isn't for the faint-hearted. It keeps me awake at night!"