A visibly frustrated John Plumtree blamed the decision-making of the leaders of the Hollywoodbets Sharks on the field for the 18-20 loss to the Emirates Lions on Saturday in Durban.
The Emirates Lions scored 17 unanswered second-half points to record a famous 20-18 victory over a baffled Hollywoodbets Sharks, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship log.
Two second-half tries from mauls, the second converted from the touchline by Sanele Nohamba to put his side in the lead (after trailing until the 77th minute) shocked the home team, who were left scratching their heads once more after a bright start.
Replacement flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain missed a 79th-minute penalty to secure the lead for the Holywoodbets Sharks.
“To pretty much give the match away like that, we certainly have a few problems that we’re going to have to look at. We had control of that game, and to pretty much give it away like that is disappointing, without being disrespectful to the Lions. They put us under pressure but we didn’t help ourselves either,” Plumtree said.
“Our decision-making was terrible tonight. Again, that’s going to have to go down to the leaders. I don’t know what’s going to excite the boys but all I know is that Monday comes around and we go again.”
“Every coach feels under pressure when you’re going through a patch like this, it’s perfectly natural. We’re all working real hard and we’re trying our best."
“Like always, I look at myself first and ask what I could’ve done better, but I’m disappointed with that second half."
"We felt good before the game and felt good all week, but under pressure, we didn’t respond well, and our decision-making under pressure was terrible tonight, and it’s going to have to go down to the leaders.”
“There just seems to be something that goes missing in the 80 minutes that allows the opposition back in or poor moments that allow the opposition to capitalise."
“Those soft moments are crucial, we have lost so many close games this season, that’s the hardest thing to take. We can’t close off a game,” Plumtree said.
