John Plumtree slams Sharks for being 'nowhere near ruthless enough' after Benetton embarrassment

Sharks head coach John Plumtree slammed his players for being "nowhere near ruthless enough" after an embarrassing 10-38 defeat to a previously winless Benetton side in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Plumtree expressed disappointment over his team's failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities in Benetton's red zone.

He emphasized that the Sharks lacked clinical execution, a crucial aspect that needs urgent attention.

"We weren't good enough tonight [Saturday], we had too many unforced errors at crucial times - particularly in their 22-metre area when we had chances to apply pressure," Plumtree remarked.

"Especially in the second half, we had the territory and possession, but we just weren't clinical enough."

"This is something we're going to have to seriously evaluate; we were far from ruthless," he added.

Despite the shortcomings, he acknowledged Benetton's strong defensive performance, noting that the Sharks worked hard but were hindered by individual mistakes.

"I thought Treviso's [Benetton] defence was outstanding. They scrambled well, got off the line, and applied pressure, which we struggled to manage."

"I don't think there was any lack of effort; we were working hard, but there were just some defensive lapses and a failure to perform clinically."

Plumtree also reflected on the Sharks' extended time away from home, expressing eagerness to return to Durban and play at Kings Park.

"We're all just looking forward to getting home now; we've been away for about five weeks, considering the Currie Cup as well," Plumtree stated.

"We're eager to reconnect with our families and anticipate having a home game," he concluded.

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