Sharks coach Plumtree upbeat despite injury woes ahead of URC opener against Glasgow

Sharks coach John Plumtree is happy with their preparations for Friday evening’s United Rugby Championship opener, despite being hampered by injuries to key players and the absence of their Springbok stars, which has forced him to field several untested combinations.

The Sharks begin their 2025/26 URC campaign with an away match against the Glasgow Warriors on Friday, travelling with a 29-man squad for a three-match European tour that also includes fixtures against the Dragons and Leinster.

“I’m happy with the way we’ve prepared under some real challenges, so yep, we’re good to go,” Plumtree said, at a media conference on the eve of departure.

“There’s potentially a front row that hasn’t played together, two locks that haven’t combined before, and a 9–10 partnership that’s new, so there are a few challenges. But we’ve actually prepared quite well and put them under pressure as much as we can from a team perspective, based on what they will face in Scotland.

"There have been one or two challenges in getting this team together, but we’ve relied on other unions to help us out, so hopefully we’ve done enough.”

Several Junior Bok stars, who impressed in the Currie Cup, will also hope to make the next step in their rugby journey for last year’s quarter-finalists.

However, Plumtree admitted that the Sharks’ chances of progressing further in the competition will largely depend on the return of their senior Springboks later in the season, which often coincides with an uptick in form for South African franchises.

“My hope is that once we get the Springboks back, they’ll be really fit to play, mentally and physically, because that’s the real challenge,” Plumtree said.

“They’ve been in the Springbok environment pretty much since June, and we obviously have to rely on our big players to succeed, especially in these big games. How we utilise those boys when they return, depending on their wellbeing, is vital.

“If you look at last year, it was really only after the Springbok resting period – around February and March – that we could push for a place in the URC finals. At the start of the season and through to the end of the resting period can be pretty tough.

"So, a lot depends on how those boys come back and how the players I have here perform.”

The veteran coach expects Glasgow to stick closely to the blueprint that has worked under Franco Smith.

“They’re a team that will play to space and look to build pressure by holding on to the ball for long periods, and when they gain territory they have a strong driving line-out. Our discipline has to be big to avoid conceding the territory battle,” Plumtree said.

Kick-off at Scotstoun Stadium is at 9.05pm on Friday.