Vusi Voetsek: Sharks have a ‘plum’ chance to shine

It is quite interesting how quickly things can change in sport — or stay the same?

We’ve known for a while it’s been coming but the appointment this week of John Plumtree as Sharks coach, for the second time, is very welcome news.

The Sharks are a huge name in South African, and world, rugby and for too long now they have underperformed. It is time that the Sharks started competing properly again at the highest level and in Plumtree they now have a coach who can help get them to that level, and challenge for trophies.

Plumtree did well with the team in his first stint between 2007 and 2012, but the expectations should be even higher this time, and they will be, considering where the 57-year-old coached before returning to South Africa.

The Sharks now have a coach with experience from domestic rugby in South Africa, and from working in rugby in Ireland, Japan and, probably most crucially, New Zealand, and in Super Rugby.

It is fair to say the Sharks now have one of the most experienced coaches going around and they now have a huge chance to reach their full potential. But with that comes a responsibility and pressure. All South African rugby eyes will be squarely on the Sharks next season.

But, Plum’s return to South Africa is good news all round.

Proteas women

Where there has been a lot of change it’s in the Proteas women’s set-up.

Just a year ago there would have been plenty of excitement about the prospect of the Proteas women’s team kicking on from showing really promising form and challenging the likes of England and Australia at world tournaments, and they did for a while, but it looks like a big rebuild will be happening soon in our national women’s team.

And that is because so many experienced, star players have called it quits over the last few months.
And, sadly out of the five who have retired — Lizellle Lee, Mignon du Preez, Dane van Niekerk, Trisha Chetty and Shabnim Ismail — two of them have done so seemingly straight out due to unhappiness with the mother body who have questioned (for want of a better word) their fitness.

Fitness and weight issues seem to have ended the international careers of Lee and Van Niekerk, which is very sad. Both have been world class performers for the Proteas and they should not have felt so aggrieved to have called time on their Proteas careers.

Du Preez, Chetty and Ismail have retired for other reasons and they, too, served the Proteas team well.
It will take some time to fill these players’ spots on a permanent basis, and their absence will be felt, but the good news is, as we witnessed during the T20 World Cup earlier this year, there are young players coming through the ranks and the Proteas’ women’s team should remain a strong unit.

It is going to be vital though for Cricket South Africa to create enough opportunities domestically for our young women cricketers to play, and often, against strong opposition to get them battle-ready for the world stage.