The Durban outfit are in the midst of an injury crisis with the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi and Lukhanyo Am unavailable.
That was followed by the late withdrawals of Emile van Heerden and Dylan Richardson ahead of their game with the Bulls, which they won 20-17.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi also pulled out late on, just a day after he was linked with a move to the Stormers.
Rumoured Stormers move
Speculation inevitably swirled online but Plumtree confirmed that his absence was down to injury and not his rumoured departure from the franchise.
“It’s been a tough week. In terms of our preparation, it was just a nightmare,” he said. “The poor old medical team, my doctor coming up the steps to tell me more bad news. It was just one of those weeks.
“But I was really proud of the effort.”
Kolisi sustained a calf issue after the team was named for the Bulls clash, but Plumtree reckons that it is not serious and he could come into their contention for their game next weekend.
Coincidently, given all the stories surrounding the back-rower’s future, the Sharks will visit Cape Town to take on the Stormers on Saturday.
“It’s just about getting some bodies back hopefully. I’m not sure who they will be but hopefully Siya will be back in the frame next week, as well as Emile van Heerden and Dylan Richardson,” Plumtree said.
“I’m guessing Ethan Bester will be out with concussion, so it’s just about who’s going to be available.
“Going to beat the Stormers in Cape Town is not an easy task. Even though it will be a slightly disrupted week with Christmas, the boys will go into the game with confidence.”
Set-piece fixes
The Sharks’ absences up front very much harmed their scrum, despite the presence of Ox Nche and Vincent Koch at prop.
Without the weight of Etzebeth at lock or the technical expertise of Mbonambi at hooker, they were dominated in the set-piece by the Bulls.
“In the set-piece, at times we were under real pressure. However, when we had to come up with the big plays we did,” Plumtree said.
“There was one at the first half under our posts, where we had to stop them from getting a try, and one right at the end of the game.
“We know that [the Stormers] next week will come at us in those departments as well.
“Now and then the Sharks come up with a special performance and this was one of them.”
