Plumtree rues lost opportunities after Sharks fail against Leinster

THE Sharks were desperately disappointing in losing 10-7 to a second-string Leinster in Durban at the weekend but they could have salvaged a draw when presented with a kickable penalty, instead, they (unsuccessfully) went to the corner.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The lineout drive proved fruitless, Leinster held on for the win and Sharks coach John Plumtree was ambivalent about captain Siya Kolisi’s decision to go for the win rather than settle for the draw.

“I don’t like losing so I probably would’ve preferred to go for the posts, but it was Siya’s decision on the field; he wanted to go for four log points,” Plumtree said. “It cost us one point him not doing it, but if we had scored then there would be a different conversation.

“Siya’s decision nearly paid off. It was frustrating that we got held up — the Irish are masters at stuffing your ball up in those types of moments,” Plumtree added that he leaves on-field decisions on penalties to the captain.

“It’s about feeling the moment. The players are out on the field and some-times feel different to us in the coaches’ box. So, they felt like they could do it.

Boeta (Mbomvu) had scored off the back of a maul earlier and that would’ve still been on Siya’s mind. We just didn’t execute it.”