John Plumtree claims Springboks are Super Rugby's missing ingredient

The pandemic forced a major shake-up in southern hemisphere rugby, with the South African franchises bringing an end to their long-time participation in the Super Rugby competition. Ironically, the Sharks were top of the table when the league was suspended indefinitely.

Two years later, a somewhat diluted Super Rugby marches on while the South African clubs ply their trade in European competitions. Plumtree, fresh off a stint on the All Blacks coaching panel, has watched the New Zealand and Australian franchises battle it out in the freshly branded Super Rugby Pacific tournament, but he remains unimpressed.

Plumtree, who played at the Sharks in the 1990s and coached them for four seasons in later years, hailed the Springboks' physicality.

"From New Zealand and Australia's side, they have absolutely missed the Springboks," the New Zealander told rugby365.com.

"The competition down here has lost a bit of spice without the South African sides and their Boks. I guess it is not quite the same flavour.

"The physicality is down. We are still getting the odd good derby game here [in New Zealand] I guess, but unfortunately, the Australian teams, apart from the Brumbies, haven't lived up to any real competition for the top sides here in New Zealand."

When the World champion Springboks get their first taste of the 2023 All Blacks on 15 July in Auckland, Plumtree will have his eye fixed on the physical battle.

"It will be interesting to see how the Boks go in that game without having played New Zealand for a while at Super level," he continued.

"Right now, the competition is really tough up there, particularly in Europe against the French, English and Irish sides. The Scottish sides are pretty tough right now as well.

"It seems to be the tougher competition - the URC and Europe. What impact that has on Test match rugby, I'm not sure, but I will say the South African sides and the Bok players are missed down here."