Latest news with #Taine
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
‘People come here to watch us score tries': Sharks amped to host quarter-final
The Sharks failed to score any tries despite winning 58% possession and 54% territory against Scarlets. Sharks head coach John Plumtree (right) said he was proud of how his son Taine played, although it was for his opposition, Scarlets. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images While the Sharks said they need to improve in several areas after their lacklustre 12–3 win against Scarlets on Saturday, they are excited to host a United Rugby Championship quarter-final in a fortnight, where they hope to be better. The Durban side beat Scarlets thanks to four penalties on a day that saw neither team able to capitalise on their chances and cross the line for a try. The Sharks finished with 58% possession and were especially disappointed (although they were the victors) in the manner of the result. The win did, however, allow them to leapfrog Glasgow Warriors on the URC log and set up a home quarter-final against Munster on Saturday, 31 May. Sharks rue their chances Coach John Plumtree and captain Eben Etzebeth (who also earned man of the match) both lamented how the Sharks failed to take their chances. 'I don't think there was a lack of us trying or our intent around what we were trying to do. It was more around just our accuracy,' Plumtree said. For example, he said the Sharks had plenty of territory and possession, with strong drives and threatening lineout plays. 'But too many basic mistakes… and it got pretty frustrating for the boys. No matter how hard we tried, nothing was going well. 'Fair play to the Scarlets. They were so tough and they've improved in all aspects of their game. They pressured our lineouts and scrum, their defence was solid. The Scarlets were good on the high ball. 'They didn't create much in attack either. It was really about defence tonight.' Quarter-final 'going to be amazing' He said the Sharks lacked accuracy in executing their skillsets, but backed his charges to bounce back come the quarter-finals. 'We have been working hard in training. I've got a lot of experienced players who don't have to be told that, they will improve. People come here to watch us score tries so that is what we want to do. 'From now on, the stakes go up.' Etzebeth said that players they already knew they had to improve, but still, he could not wait for a knockout game in front of the Sharks' home fans at Kings Park Stadium. 'It's going to be amazing,' he said. URC quarter-finals: Top eight and kick-off times confirmed
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Sharks coach Plumtree wants to delay family reunion until Scarlets beaten and URC points banked
Eben Etzebeth Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is back to lead the Sharks against the Scarlets tonight. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Sharks coach John Plumtree was only half-joking when he said didn't need to do any analysis of the Scarlets team because he has been watching his son closely this season, just as any father would do. Taine Plumtree will be on the flank for the Scarlets tonight (7.30pm kick-off) in a final-round United Rugby Championship match that could have a third place log finish riding on it for the Sharks. If they beat the Scarlets and later tonight Leinster beat the Warriors, the Sharks will finish third. 'Obviously with Taine playing for them, I watch the Scarlets a lot, and I have been doing that for a long time now, so I am very familiar with their game,' Plumtree said yesterday. 'I have watched them closely, and they are one team in the URC that I would say has improved in every area of their game. 'They have got better as the season has gone on, and I am not surprised that they are sixth on the log. 'They have had a lot of consistency around their selection,' Plumtree continued. 'They maybe don't have quite the same depth as some other teams, but they've been very good this season around injuries. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'They have a lot of X-factor, and they are playing with confidence. 'Their set-piece is functioning really well too, and they have beaten the Lions and the Ospreys, as well as Leinster, which was a team we couldn't beat. 'So they are a genuine threat.' Plumtree said this game doubles as a family reunion because his wife, Lara, is visiting from New Zealand, and will be seeing Taine for the first time in eight months. 'It was really weird when I coached against Taine for the first time when we played them last year and the media over in Wales made a big thing of it, but we got through that, so there hasn't been the same level of strangeness this time,' he said. 'Obviously we haven't focused much on Taine in team meetings... the players seem to be quite respectful about that. 'I'd like Taine to get through the match safely and for him to do well on a personal level, but this is obviously one game I don't want his team to win.' Taine was born in Swansea when his father was coaching there, but spent much of his schooling in Durban when his father was in his first tenure as Sharks coach. 'Taine was one of those hundreds of kids that run around the outer fields at Kings Park. He grew up supporting the Sharks, so this is a very special game for him,' said Plumtree. Plumtree said his team has had ambitions of finishing third for some time. 'One part of this game is that we want to get our performance right ahead of the quarter-final, but another part is that we wanted to keep putting pressure on Glasgow for third spot,' the former loose forward said. 'We do want that third spot, so it is important to us that we get the win. We want to get that job done this week and finish third.' Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth has shaken off a thigh 'lamey' and will take his place in a welcome boost for the Sharks. There had been a worry that he would sit out this game, but as Plumtree said, 'Eben is a fast healer'. The news is not as good for Etzebeth's Bok teammate, Siya Kolisi, who is sitting this one out with a minor injury. In another change to the forwards, Plumtree is giving Zimbabwean Tino Mavesere a chance at openside flank. He takes over from James Venter. Also in the forwards, Ox Nche returns at loosehead prop after missing last week's game, taking over from Dian Bleuler. Young lock Emile van Heerden is also making his return to the second row, with Jason Jenkins shifting to the bench in place of Emmanuel Tshituka (concussion). The backline that played well last week against the Ospreys is unchanged for the Scarlets. Sharks Team 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 André Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Siya Masuku 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Phepsi Buthelezi 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 Tino Mavesere 5 Emile van Heerden 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain) 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche. Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Jason Jenkins 20 Nick Hatton 21 Bradley Davids 22 Francois Venter 23 Yaw Penxe.
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sharks brace for well-oiled Scarlets machine
Coach John Plumtree described the Scarlets as a "genuine threat" amid their three-game winning streak – including a win over Leinster – and said he was looking forward to seeing his son on the field. Sharks head coach John Plumtree said they are not underestimating the 'genuine threat' they face in Welsh side Scarlets, who are on a three-game winning streak, when the teams play their final United Rugby Championship league phase game at Kings Park Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 7.30pm). He alsosaid he has spent time catching up with his son Taine this week, and wishes him the best for when, the Welsh international lines up opposite his own players on the field. However, Plumtree joked he certainly hopes 'he doesn't win'. Scarlets improved in every area 'With Taine playing in that team, I've been watching that team for a long time because I follow his rugby very closely and how he's progressing,' Plumtree said. 'I've been watching the Scarlets for the whole season, really, and they've improved in just about every area of their game.' The Scarlets lie sixth on the URC log and are within two points of Stormers at fifth. However, a loss could mean they drop out of the top eight and not appear in the play-offs at all. They are in great form, however, coming from 32–19 win over the Lions in Johannesburg last week that followed an even more impressive 35–22 win against Leinster in Wales. 'The Welsh side has just gotten better as the season's gone on. So it's no surprise to me that they are where they are at the moment,' Plumtree added. 'They have a lot of consistency around selection. They probably don't have the squad depth but they've had a good run of not having too many injuries. So they've kept players on the park, and with that their game has developed.' The Sharks coach said Scarlets have X-factor and confidence on their side. 'Their set-piece is functioning really well. It certainly did against the Lions and Leinster. They're a genuine threat. They've beaten Ospreys and Leinster, a side that we didn't. It's going to be a real contest.' Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will lead the Sharks side on the day while Siya Kolisi is rested and Grant Williams and Lukhanyo Am are still not back from injury. Taine Plumtree lines up against his father Regarding his son, Plumtree said this was the first time Taine would be playing against the Sharks in South Africa. When they featured on opposite ends of the field in Wales last year, the Welsh media were just as interested as our own. 'From his side, he grew up watching a lot of rugby at this stadium. So I know how excited he is about coming back here and actually playing here. As a young fellow he was running around those back fields and playing rugby with his mates.' Plumtree said for Taine to return would be a 'massive moment for him'. 'I spent a lot of time with him this week. We don't really talk too much about rugby. It's been more around his brothers and family, and everything else. His mum's here now so it's for him because he hadn't caught up with her for about eight months. So he's had a really good week. 'When it's your own kid you hope he plays well and hope he gets through the game safe. I certainly hope he doesn't win,' Plumtree laughed. 'In our preparation this week we haven't talked about him too much. The players have been respectful around that.'
The Citizen
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Plum vs Plum: John Plumtree's son Taine takes on Sharks at Kings Park
While John Plumtree is Taine's 'number one supporter' and looks forward to seeing him again, the Sharks will not hold back against him. Sharks players say they've enjoyed some light-hearted banter ahead of this weekend's clash, which will see their coach's son lining up as part of the opposition in a friendly family rivalry. John Plumtree's son Taine is a Welsh international and a key player at Scarlets, who will travel to Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Saturday. While the Sharks coach and his charges have spoken excitedly about his appearance, it's serious stuff for Scarlets, who could miss out on a play-off spot if they lose this final United Rugby Championship league phase game kicking off at 7.30pm. The Sharks will also be eager to win and move up to third on the URC log. Plumtree excited to see his son 'I was hoping he might play on this pitch one day and it's going to happen. It's not for the Sharks, but it will be good to see him,' Plumtree said of his son. 'Of course he's got to get through this week safely.' No reports of an injury to Taine have emerged, and he has played in all six of their last games, scoring tries against Lions, Leinster and Ospreys. Sharks flanker James Venter, who may have to line up opposite Taine depending on the position he is played, called his coach Taine's 'number one supporter'. 'Coach Plum obviously loves his son and is a big supporter of his son as well. He never misses a game,' Venter said. 'It's going to be a good battle this weekend.' Sharks will not hold back against Taine 'We had some good banter in the week,' the flanker smiled. 'This morning, they were showing one or two clips of their defensive efforts and he said 'there's a big, big wall there so you got to watch out for him', obviously referring to Taine.' Venter said the Sharks do not focus too much on certain individuals per se. 'But on the field on Saturday, we'll definitely make him aware that the boys are there. We know who he is and we are not going to hold back [against] him.'
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales back row Plumtree signs new Scarlets deal
Wales back row Taine Plumtree has signed a new contract to remain with Welsh region has not disclosed the length of the extended deal, but 25-year-old Plumtree says it commits him to Scarlets "for the foreseeable future".Plumtree is in his second season in west Wales, the Swansea-born player having made the move from New Zealand in summer 2023."I am delighted to have signed with the Scarlets for the foreseeable future," Plumtree said."It's a club that has done a lot for me and made me so welcome, not only the players and staff, but the fans, with the support they have shown me for the last year and a half. It was a no-brainer to recommit to the club"Another reason why I wanted to re-sign was that I can see the potential the club has - the boys that are coming through and the talent that is here. I want to be part of that. "There are exciting times ahead. I think we have shown signs of that this year and hopefully we can keep on building over the coming years." Plumtree made his Wales debut in August 2023, coming off the bench in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game against head coach Dwayne Peel said: "Taine has been excellent since he arrived here in Llanelli a couple of years ago. He is a big character around the group and a key player on the field. He has also become a real leader for us."Taine is still a young man and we are excited that there is plenty more to come from him. He is athletic, carries strongly, is a great line-out option and is a player who puts a lot of work into his game - he is always looking to get better. "We are delighted he has signed a new contract with us and he has a big part to play in the evolution of this team."
