{"id":169988,"date":"2025-06-09T10:20:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T10:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/169988\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T10:20:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T10:20:10","slug":"sharks-fans-accuse-john-plumtree-of-making-idiots-out-of-legends-planet-rugby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/169988\/","title":{"rendered":"Sharks fans accuse John Plumtree of ‘making idiots out of legends’ : Planet Rugby"},"content":{"rendered":"

John Plumtree should be sacked with immediate effect, according to several Sharks fans who have taken to social media to express their frustration that the club\u2019s United Rugby Championship (URC) ended last Saturday at the semi-final stage.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Kiwi was appointed in May 2023 for his second stint in charge at the Durban-based franchise. He had previously been at the helm from 2008 to 2012, winning a pair of Currie Cup titles and guiding the team to a Super Rugby final in his last year in charge.<\/p>\n

He has since had varied experience, assisting Ireland, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks. He was also head coach at the Hurricanes from 2018 after Chris Boyd exited to take charge at the Northampton Saints in England.<\/p>\n

The Sharks<\/a>\u2019 derisory 14th place finish on the 2023\/24 URC<\/a> table, a campaign that featured a meagre four wins in 18 outings, was offset by the club winning the second tier EPCR Challenge Cup.<\/p>\n

However, hopes of a second-season transformation in the league were ended by last Saturday\u2019s deflating performance in their 13-25 semi-final loss to the Bulls<\/a> in Pretoria.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is the time to make the change\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite exiting the Challenge Cup with a round-of-16 defeat at Lyon, the Sharks ended the URC regular season in third spot after winning 13 of their 18 matches. That earned them a home quarter-final against Munster, a challenge they eventually overcame with a 6-4 victory in the penalty shootout that was required after a 24-all extra-time draw.<\/p>\n

However, the momentum of that dramatic last-eight victory didn\u2019t follow through in their semi-final performance as they were always second best despite the Bulls encountering yellow card trouble and at one stage being down to 12 men.<\/p>\n

The reaction of Sharks fans to the 13-25 loss hasn\u2019t been kind, with several calling on Marco Masotti to pull the plug on the Plumtree<\/a> era and instead seek out a new head coach for the 2025\/26 season. Here is a cross-section of the level of frustration that emerged on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter:<\/p>\n

Grant Dodds: \u201cNow is the time to make the change. Plumtree is not your man and neither is Powell. Open the chequebook and get the BEST coach and director of rugby. You owe it to the players!\u201d<\/p>\n

@BokScrum1211: \u201cDouble World Cup winners don\u2019t become double World Cup winners without great coaching. Plumtree has a poor coaching track record. Bulls making 3 URC finals beats everything the Sharks have done under Plumtree. Imagine finishing 14th. Even the Lions aren\u2019t that bad and they have genuine excuses to be where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Ta_Mundra: \u201cSharks is seriously not a coached side\u2026 emotions and candid loyalties aside, Plumtree has always been mediocre.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The \u2018poetic justice\u2019 verdict on Jaden Hendrikse \u2018making a tool of himself\u2019 versus the Bulls<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

@Phumlani1106: \u201cPeople say Plumtree is the problem, forgetting he is the 3rd coach in 5 years and has had the same issue as others\u2026 To be honest, those Boks should be playing overseas but they don\u2019t need the money because they\u2019re paid well here. Whoever comes in, if Plumtree gets fired, should make the core of the team non-Boks and have everyone fight for a starting place.\u201d<\/p>\n

@simonfeesh: \u201cLiterally the worst best team ever. On paper, this team should be dominating. But they are disjointed, lack cohesion and seem to have no vision. And that\u2019s a coaching issue. Plumtree is not the coach we need. I love the Sharks, but I stopped watching.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Klipkop007: \u201cMr Masotti, the Sharks are haemorrhaging fans and supporters. May l be frank, they have played ugly rugby this entire season which is dreadful to watch. If l had to convince someone to become a rugby supporter, the Sharks are the last team I\u2019ll show him. FIRE PLUMTREE & CO NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n

@tyrescekyle: \u201cFranco, Ackermann, and Nienaber would all have this team dominate the URC. Plumtree seems to have no tactics just sit back and hope our stars carry us to victory through individual brilliance.\u201d<\/p>\n

@SuhailHunter08: \u201cHope Plumtree gets the sack. It\u2019s unacceptable with this amount of Boks in the team to play this crap, the entire season mostly that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

@rickarjunan: \u201cSpringbok-laden team but been so disjointed this season. Just the individual brilliance in certain games pulled us through. Plumtree unfortunately not up to it. We need an efficient coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

@sean_draxie: \u201cHe has been a very mediocre coach all his life. For the talent he had at his disposal, he has done so poorly. John Smit and a lot of the hierarchy at the Sharks have kept Plumtree employed.\u201d<\/p>\n

@jacquesmoller: \u201c2nd tenure Plumtree has had with the strongest squad in SA. He didn\u2019t win Super Rugby the first time. The more things change, the more they stay the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

@StormMurphy7: \u201cThose players are a different beast when playing for the Bokke\u2026 That\u2019s why it is so confusing! Sorry to say Plumtree is not and never has been the coach for them. They need a complete overhaul in that department.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Sporting_Around: \u201cPlumtree being paid for nothing. Just on cruise control. No clue. Not willing to make necessary changes. Just hoping for miracles. So many players having shocking performances. Rassie MUST be careful. That squad is carrying dead weight!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

@AngaGolimpi: \u201cWe\u2019re not asking for much, please get rid of Plumtree.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Sptberserker: \u201cThis was such a bad performance and what p***es us off is it\u2019s the same thing every week and nothing changes. It was JP Pietersen who won us the Currie Cup and Plumtree gets credit. How long before change happens? We love the team so much and hate to see this badge let down.\u201d<\/p>\n

@A_Snazzy8: \u201cThis is what we get for the blind loyalty awarded to Plumtree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Grace in defeat \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\udfc9<\/p>\n

Even in loss, Siya Kolisi shows what it\u2019s all about \ud83d\ude4c#BKTURC<\/a> #URC<\/a> | #BULvSHA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2QM1fHjzFl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

@Phleb_Madasa: \u201cI have never been convinced by John Plumtree, especially this season. Sharks have the best players this season. But the Bulls have been properly coached.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Die_Revenant: \u201cMajority of the people calling for Plumtree out aren\u2019t Sharks fans. Like bitter Twitter accounts who live in Doha and only care about selling hoodies. Plumtree is not going anywhere I can assure you.\u201d<\/p>\n

@dk_dax: \u201cI hate Jake White but will support the Bulls with a sore heart. Purely for patriotism. John Plumtree must go.\u201d<\/p>\n

@ColmTonge: \u201cAnother car crash. How is Plumtree still in a job?\u201d<\/p>\n

@meaniepants_Esq: \u201cYour love affair with the very pedestrian Plumtree has to end or else nothing will change.\u201d<\/p>\n

@jjsalmo: \u201cPlumtree can\u2019t be in place next season.\u201d<\/p>\n

@LadyLessss: \u201cPlumtree should go. Please, we are scrapping and making idiots out of legends.\u201d<\/p>\n

@jmmagwaza: \u201cWhat has Siya Kolisi as a player done for the Sharks? How can a team full of Springboks be so poor the entire season? Is Plumtree the right coach after the struggles of the season?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Siya Kolisi is the world\u2019s greatest rugby captain. Don\u2019t see him as the issue, Hendrikses and Plumtree are an issue. Wouldn\u2019t mind Mbongi being captain though<\/p>\n

\u2014 BokScrum (@BokScrum1211) June 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

@keenan_kro: \u201cIt\u2019s time to let Plumtree go. He can\u2019t get the best out of this squad full of Springboks. We\u2019ve had enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Timo2536: \u201cSharks are a far cry to their good old days. Been so poor and boring to watch. Plumtree has taken the team backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

@baba_kaDojakati: \u201cMake the call Marco, Plumtree has to go. FIRST FLIGHT TOMORROW MORNING.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Dlamaqhinga: \u201cThe club must fire Plumtree.\u201d<\/p>\n

@T_Tshose: \u201cSack John Plumtree Now!!! This team lacks an identity, smarts and discipline. Bring in Nienaber.\u201d<\/p>\n

@SelaMalesela: \u201cThe Sharks need to fire John Plumtree and at least try to bring in Jimmy Stonehouse or Franco Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n

@db_hoffmann: \u201cThis feels different, this team is so talented but just look BADLY COACHED. Questions to be asked!\u201d<\/p>\n

@Dubz_cs_Kitsh: \u201cJohn Plumtree didn\u2019t have a game plan in all honesty.\u201d<\/p>\n

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David Kriel soars over the try line as the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby<\/a> go one step closer to the Grand Final \u2708\ufe0f#BKTURC<\/a> #URC<\/a> | #BULvSHA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/l4URuw5xng<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

@AceMalusi: \u201cThis is it for Plumtree! Should have been replaced a long time ago!!\u201d<\/p>\n

@A_Snazzy8: \u201cThis Sharks experiment will be deemed a failure because this coach (Plumtree) couldn\u2019t build a unit. He thought fantasy rugby was enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Civashe28: \u201cThe Sharks quite literally have no game plan, no tactics. Just pick and go and 3 wide to wide and kick it up. Plumtree needs to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

@Lloydbhudda: \u201cJohn Plumtree, please have some shame and hand in your resignation.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Sharks player ratings: Springboks veteran has an \u2018absolute mare\u2019 while Hendrikse brothers fail to connect<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n