EXCLUSIVE | John Plumtree endorses JP Pietersen as the new Sharks head coach

Sharks coach John Plumtree says the time is right for him to “step aside” from the main coaching role at the Shark Tank, and he will hand over the reins to JP Pietersen, who is effectively in charge from the conclusion of Sunday evening’s Champions Cup match against Toulouse.

Pietersen’s first gig as the new coach will be next week’s home Champions Cup match against Saracens, a match the Sharks have heavily targeted and which will see their host of Springboks back in action.

Plumtree was supposed to step down at the end of the season, around May next year, but he says his “battery is drained”, and he needs a recharge. Who can blame the big Kiwi, who has been under enormous pressure over the last 18 months and has often seemed like he was fighting a lone battle?

“I’m stepping aside but not away,” Plumtree told Independent Media. Last week, before the Connacht game in Galway, he met with Sharks owner Marco Masotti. Plumtree outlined his thoughts on how he can be involved in the Sharks going forward, and recommended that Currie Cup coach Pietersen, who was a favourite son of the Shark Tank as a player over 137 games.

Masotti gave the green light.

“The restructuring was done after the Scarlets game (on October 25), and I needed time to reflect on what happened, and what is best for the Sharks going forward,” Plumtree said. “It's not about me, but I know how hard I've worked over the last two and a half years, and I feel that if we're going to fix the Sharks, it needs to be done properly.

“The big picture is I want a Sharks man in charge in the future,” Plumtree continued. “But for this to become a successful venture, the support system around the head coach has to be very, very good.”

Plumtree felt like a lone warrior at times, with a disconnect between the various factions involved in the running of the Sharks.

“Support for JP has to be a big part of the improvement of the Sharks going forward,” Plumtree stressed. “So I'm going to be really passionate about growing JP in this role, because I know what's required.”

Plumtree said he would guide Pietersen through the process and still have a role within the squad.

“JP and I are going through the details of what that will look like, because most of it will be around helping his load, but he wants to have a big role on the coaching side of it.

“And I get that, because he's young and wants to have an influence on the field. And that's great. But then there are other dynamics to the business that take a lot of your time. So it's really important that he's supported well in that space.

“It is things like recruitment, the day-to-day handling of players' affairs, the medical team, the list goes on. There are lots of different dynamics in your day-to-day job at the Sharks, and it can't all land on one man's head.”

Plumtree, a vastly experienced coach who has had roles with the All Blacks, Ireland and the Hurricanes, not to mention two stints at the Sharks, says he believes Pietersen has what it takes.

“He's got some very good attributes for a future Sharks head coach, as long as he is supported.

“If we brought in another guy who was 50 years old, and he had had head coaching roles, he would need support too, especially with the dynamics we have at the Sharks around, with (Springbok) players coming in, players going out.

“JP has the unique ability to connect with the youngest player in the team and the oldest, and all different colours, all different languages. He's got a beautiful way about how he goes about that, which is pretty special, because a lot of good coaches are quite insular — they prefer sitting in front of their laptops with a whistle around their neck, and that's where they shine.

“But you also get a lot of coaches that are really good with the boys and can get the best out of them because they believe in them, and they believe in him. I think JP has got a great advantage in that space.”

Plumtree says the best coaches are those who take “bits and pieces” from the characters that have moulded them.

“The big thing that I've just said to JP is to never forget that I'll be around to help and guide him, but he has to make sure he stays himself.”