Hollywoodbets Sharks' Head Coach John Plumtree said their bench changed the game following their 21-25 defeat to the DHL Stormers on Saturday.
The host trailed 15 points early in the second half before returning Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi scored a try and debutant flyhalf Siya Masuku looked electric with the ball in hand when he came off the bench.
“The Stormers, where they are right now as a team is where we want to be,” Plumtree said. “They worked really hard defensively."
“We created a couple of opportunities, but we didn’t finish them off. They scrambled back and were able to stop us. That’s why they are where they are."
“It’s a tough outfit. I’m just happy we never gave up. We came back into the contest at the end. We didn’t execute that lineout which was a coach killer, but that’s the way it goes."
“I just want us to get better and better and improve. It’s frustrating for me, because I haven’t had the opportunity to work with our full-strength pack, especially in these big derbies."
“Our boys tried real hard today. But there’s a difference between our first group and second group in what we’ve got. That’s a real challenge for us. We need to do well without our Springboks."
"We’ve had a lot of key players injured this year."
“If we can get more of them back, I reckon we will be a force. But we aren’t there yet. We will get there.”
