Durban – The waters at the Shark Tank turned murkier on Sunday after reports that former Springbok coach Nick Mallett had turned down an offer to take over as coach from John Plumtree.
Mallett, who is currently working as a rugby analyst for SuperSport, was quoted as saying: “I did have an approach from Natal (The Sharks), but I’m very happy at SuperSport and want to continue what I’m doing until 2015 (the year of the next World Cup). After that I may be interested in returning to coaching with an international team.”
On Sunday night, attempts to reach outgoing Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl to have the matter confirmed or denied were unsuccessful, but the veteran administrator was quoted in City Press as saying a board decision is in place “to offer John Plumtree a two-year extension on his contract to be negotiated by the new CEO (ex-Springbok captain John Smit)”.
Smit takes over on July 1. Plumtree’s contract expires at the end of the year.
Graham MacKenzie, president of the KZN Rugby Union, added: “Smit’s first order of business will be to inspect and analyse every aspect of the rugby union’s activities. It would be unfair for us to saddle John with an agenda.”
Still, Mallett maintains that he has been sounded out (behind Plumtree’s back), and if this is true, it adds up to shoddy treatment of Plumtree, who last year was named South Africa’s Coach of the Year after taking the Sharks to the 2012 Super Rugby and Currie Cup finals.
This year, it hasn’t gone as well for the Sharks. They are currently 10th on the Super Rugby ladder after having undergone a horror season of injuries to key players, and it would appear that the coach could be in the firing line despite being crowned the best coach in the country only a few months ago.
Plumtree has been coaching the Sharks for five years. He took over from Dick Muir, under whom he served as assistant coach in 2007.
In his first year in charge, he provided the first Currie Cup title for the Sharks in 12 years. They had last won in 1996, when Plumtree was still a player for the Sharks. Plumtree again won the title in 2010.
On Sunday night Plumtree said he did not wish to make any comment, and Mallett could not be contacted at his Knysna home.
Plumtree has had a difficult time this season with off-field rumours. During the Sharks’ recent tour of New Zealand and Australia, it was claimed in a newspaper report that captain Keegan Daniel had caused a rift in the team by voicing anti-Afrikaans sentiments.
The furious coach vigorously denied the allegation and saw it as a slight on him as coach as well as on Daniel. The Sharks players rallied around the coach and captain and that week beat the Force to end a five-match losing run.
The Sharks are currently enjoying the June break from Super Rugby that takes place when the southern hemisphere countries host visiting teams from the northern hemisphere. Their next match is at home to the Blues on June 29. – The Mercury