The Hollywoodbets Sharks’ 2025/26 Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign has started off on a challenging note as they tour early, playing three games away from home and negotiate this tough period without the services of their Springboks and a number of injured players unavailable.
For Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree, the expectations for his side this season are that he faces early trying times, but after the first month or two, he will build on the gains made upfront when squad depth allows him more freedom in team selection.
“Like all the South African franchises, we have massive challenges, but my hope is once we get our Springboks back, they’re ready and fit to play, both mentally and physically,” he explained. “That’s the real challenge, because they’ve been in a Springbok environment since June.
“We have to rely on our big players to have success, especially when it comes to these big, big games. How we utilise those boys when they get back, depending on their well-being – I know what to expect, I’ve seen it all. But there are many challenges along the way.
“I’d like to think it’s all smooth sailing, but the reality, based on the last two years’ experiences I’ve had, like now, we have to deal with injuries to key players, in key positions, in key combinations. If you look at what happened to us last year, it was only once we got past the Springbok resting protocols in February and March that we could really push for a place in the VURC finals.
“The rest of the time before that was really tough. A lot depends on how those boys come back and how the players we have now perform, so that they can do a job for us in the big games.”
Missing an entire front row, the Springboks’ most capped player ever, lock Eben Etzebeth, Bok captain and dual Rugby World Cup winner Siya Kolisi, and international backline players like Grant Williams, Jordan Hendrikse, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Aphelele Fassi and a fairly lengthy injury list, Plumtree has over 25 players unavailable to him.
The Springboks will look to retain their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title when they take on Argentina in their final match this weekend, before some of the Boks are released back to their franchises.
Will they all be selected?
“Only the guys that really want to play and can perform for us,” confirmed Plumtree, insofar as many have carried a heavy international load, and their health will be the primary consideration.
“We’ll need to be really careful with the well-being of the athletes, integrating them back, particularly if they’ve carried a heavy workload and been away from home for a long time. Then we have to see what their mindsets are like.”
The flyhalf situation is also a consideration, but Plumtree said he was looking forward to getting Jordan Hendrikse and Siya Masuku back within the next three weeks.
“Jordan’s injury has been a bit longer than Siya’s, who is healing quite fast, so we’re hoping Siya might be able to play a part on tour, if not, then when we get back.
“We’d like to get Jordan back for the two home games post-tour.”
The Hollywoodbets Sharks take on the Dragons on Friday night in round two, before closing out their three-week tour against champions Leinster.