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You have to give Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl one thing – he’s great value if you do manage to get hold of him for an interview!
We’ve become pretty used to the Straueli-inspired cloak-and-dagger media approach in Durban, so when Stephen Nell managed to get past the former Bok coach and speak directly to the man in charge, he uncovered a few surprising nuggets. Take it with a pinch of salt, though, just as you would anything written by Mr Nell.
According to van Zyl, anyway, John Plumtree has not applied for the Hurricanes coaching job and is in fact poised to extend his Sharks contract by a further two years – until the end of the 2013 season. This flies in the face of what has been reported from New Zealand and means that SOMEBODY is telling pork pies – if not the New Zealand media (no doubt acting on a leak from within the NZRU), then it would have to be either van Zyl or Plumtree. Let’s hope it the first option, because lying to the media and lying to your employer both seem pretty disingenuous, since you’re pretty sure to be found out!
So on the face of it, Plumtree is sticking around in Durban, which is probably good news from the perspective of continuity. Van Zyl reckons the coach will be given time off and “upskilled” during this year’s Currie Cup (perhaps he’ll learn about mental coaching) but will not be far from the team during this period. A Currie Cup coach has not yet been appointed, but this site has reliably learned that Hugh Reece-Edwards is the front-runner for that position.
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Damn does does mean we have to cancel the interview we lined up with Jake White LOL
@Original Pierre (Comment 1) : there’s plenty more to come on this story, I feel…
Remember also that I’ve paraphrased the original story. Plumtree apparently told van Zyl that he “hasn’t spoken to anyone in New Zealand in months”. Perhaps he applied via email?
well that is good news. i thought it was just to early for plum to jump ship. he learnt a lot last year and i am hoping he can use it to get the sharks heading back in the right direction.
actually didn’t the lions say the same thing about loffie?
@try time (Comment 5) : yup. Almost sounds like the dreaded “vote of confidence”…
This is why most coaches and players don’t talk to the media.
Because 90% of what is written is rumoured and never confirmed with the individual.
I trust Nell and Van Zyl is talking the truth and would personally class the reports from yesterday as rubbish.
@Morné (Comment 7) : I thought you and Nell weren’t good buds…
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
We’re not, but he does not make himself guilty of printing rumoured rubbish like most other reporters – he usually has his facts straight.
Still does not mean I have to like him!
@Morné (Comment 9) : ah ok . fair enough.
@Morné (Comment 7) : most reports are, but it keeps the fans entertained in between games. to stop these silly mid week reports they should consider playing rugby games all week. that way reporters don’t need to dream articles up to keep themselves employed. it will also mean more games get watched.
@try time (Comment 11) :
We will never read a Gavin Rich article again!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
Perhaps he applied months AGO.
Please let it NOT be Reece-Edwards for the CC coach position.
Sean Everitt is the man for the Job.!!!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : he he… there’s a new arti on stuff.co.nz. Looks like Plum himself has specifically denied this one in the NZ Dominion.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 14) : +100