Plumtree and the Sharks have not forgotten the horror of losing to Zebre

JOHN Plumtree would probably say that the low point of his coaching career was an earth-shattering loss to lowly Zebre in Parma a year ago, a disappointment he has not forgotten as the same team visits the Shark Tank today for a United Rugby Championship (URC) match.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

That loss to Zebre was the fourth match into Plumtree’s second tenure at the Sharks and the fourth successive loss. In a scrappy encounter, the Italians edged home 12-10 to end a staggering run of 28 successive defeats, one of the longest losing streaks in professional rugby history.

Zebre celebrated long and hard but it remains their only victory over a South African side since 2020 while the Sharks have continued to stumble against Italian teams — they have lost their last three URC games to Benetton (twice) and Zebre.

“Zebre are dangerous and we have not forgotten what happened in Parma. That hurt. We have prepared accordingly but have a lot of respect for them,” Plumtree said.