Sharks look to step up ahead of URC Quarterfinal

The KwaZulu-Natal side will come up against 2023 champions Munster in Durban on 31 May as they look to progress further into the play-offs.

Following a scrappy 12–3 win over the Scarlets, Plumtree admitted their attack lacked bite and will need to be significantly sharper to overcome their Irish opponents.

"Next time we run out here, it's going to be knockout rugby and we'll have to play a lot better if we want to carry on in this tournament because from now on the stakes go up," said Plumtree.

"It wasn’t much of a game of rugby, to be honest. We have to be better than that. The players are frustrated too. There were a few issues around our attack tonight.

"We mucked up our launches, just through inaccuracies. It looked to me that we were trying really hard but there was just one more mistake, and we just couldn’t get anything right. 

"It wasn’t a good performance from our side, and we just have to really look at the reasons why and get better. We’re lacking accuracy in our game."

The Sharks have often edged out tight wins this season, but Plumtree says their experienced core must now bring training-ground precision onto the field if they are to go beyond the last eight.

"We’re training really hard and we’re looking really good and we’re putting all those skills under pressure in training, but it’s about transferring it to the game and we’re not quite nailing that. 

"I’ve got a lot of experienced players in my team and they don’t have to be told that, they know that."

READ: URC quarterfinal fixtures and venues confirmed