Bruised Etzebeth set to miss Scarlets in Durban this week but coach John Plumtree welcomes his son, Taine

A thigh injury is likely to keep Springbok bruiser Eben Etzebeth out of the Sharks’ final United Rugby Championship (URC) league game this weekend, against the Scarlets in Durban on Saturday, but coach John Plumtree thinks he will be good to go for the quarter-finals.

The Sharks sealed a home quarter-final when they beat Ospreys at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday night, and earned a try-scoring bonus point in the 29-10 win.

However, talisman lock, Etzebeth left the field on a golf cart while clutching his thigh in pain. But Plumtree is hopeful it is no more than a ‘lamey.’

“Eben is okay,” Plumtree said on Sunday. “I am not sure if he will make this weekend, we will see later in the week, but he is looking better and he should be fine going forward.”

Plumtree was pleased with a team performance he described as ‘workmanlike’.

“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 percent, but they were far better at home against the Ospreys.  We scored four well-worked tries and we are happy with that.”

This week, the Sharks host the Welsh team from Swansea, where Plumtree cut his coaching teeth in 1996 after retiring as a player at the Sharks.

“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 continued.

“They have a lot of confidence and are well driven by Wales flyhalf Sam Costelow.”

The Scarlets also happen to have Taine Plumtree in their ranks. The son of John and South African-born Lara was born in Swansea but raised in Durban.

“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.

“And the Scarlets have plenty to play for in terms of the top eight,” Plumtree pointed out. “The Scarlets are in the top eight and will go higher if they beat us.

“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."