Eben Etzebeth is set to miss Saturday’s clash against Scarlets due to a leg injury, but John Plumtree is confident the Sharks skipper will be available for the URC playoffs.
Etzebeth left the field on a golf cart during last week’s victory over Ospreys at Kings Park with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, raising concerns about the Springbok enforcer’s availability for the knockout stages.
“Eben is OK,” Plumtree told IOL. “I am not sure if he will make it this weekend, we will see later in the week, but he is looking better and he should be fine going forward.”
The Sharks head coach expressed satisfaction with his team’s comprehensive performance against Ospreys, which guaranteed Durban fans a first URC quarter-final clash on 31 May.
“After reviewing the game, we were very happy with how we controlled the game. Our territory and possession statistics were much better than they were overseas against Edinburgh and Ulster,” he said.
“Overseas, those stats were down between 30 and 40%, but they were far better at home against the Ospreys. We scored four well-worked tries and we are happy with that.”
The Sharks will hope that Glasgow Warriors go down against Leinster in round 18, and they beat Scarlets to move up to third place.
Saturday’s clash carries added significance for Plumtree, whose son Taine is expected to line up for Scarlets in the Shark Tank.
“I always hoped that my kids would play at the Shark Tank, ideally for the Sharks, but it happens that Taine will be playing against us on Saturday,” Plumtree said.
“Taine is my son, I am very proud of him and what he has achieved as a professional. He is still developing his game.
“From an emotional side, he always wanted to play at Kings Park in the Sharks jersey, and maybe that may still happen.”
The family reunion comes against a dangerous Scarlets side that enhanced their playoff credentials with last week’s bonus-point win over the Lions at Ellis Park, where Taine crossed the whitewash in a commanding display.
“We feel the Scarlets are a better side than the Ospreys; they are winning games away from home, they have beaten Leinster, and now have beaten the Lions in Johannesburg,” Plumtree said.
“They have a lot of confidence and are well driven by Wales flyhalf Sam Costelow. The Scarlets are in the top eight and will go higher if they beat us.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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