John Plumtree should be sacked with immediate effect, according to several Sharks fans who have taken to social media to express their frustration that the club’s United Rugby Championship (URC) ended last Saturday at the semi-final stage.

The Kiwi was appointed in May 2023 for his second stint in charge at the Durban-based franchise. He had previously been at the helm from 2008 to 2012, winning a pair of Currie Cup titles and guiding the team to a Super Rugby final in his last year in charge.

He has since had varied experience, assisting Ireland, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks. He was also head coach at the Hurricanes from 2018 after Chris Boyd exited to take charge at the Northampton Saints in England.

The Sharks’ derisory 14th place finish on the 2023/24 URC table, a campaign that featured a meagre four wins in 18 outings, was offset by the club winning the second tier EPCR Challenge Cup.

However, hopes of a second-season transformation in the league were ended by last Saturday’s deflating performance in their 13-25 semi-final loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

“Now is the time to make the change…”

Despite exiting the Challenge Cup with a round-of-16 defeat at Lyon, the Sharks ended the URC regular season in third spot after winning 13 of their 18 matches. That earned them a home quarter-final against Munster, a challenge they eventually overcame with a 6-4 victory in the penalty shootout that was required after a 24-all extra-time draw.

However, the momentum of that dramatic last-eight victory didn’t follow through in their semi-final performance as they were always second best despite the Bulls encountering yellow card trouble and at one stage being down to 12 men.

The reaction of Sharks fans to the 13-25 loss hasn’t been kind, with several calling on Marco Masotti to pull the plug on the Plumtree era and instead seek out a new head coach for the 2025/26 season. Here is a cross-section of the level of frustration that emerged on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter:

Grant Dodds: “Now is the time to make the change. Plumtree is not your man and neither is Powell. Open the chequebook and get the BEST coach and director of rugby. You owe it to the players!”

@BokScrum1211: “Double World Cup winners don’t become double World Cup winners without great coaching. Plumtree has a poor coaching track record. Bulls making 3 URC finals beats everything the Sharks have done under Plumtree. Imagine finishing 14th. Even the Lions aren’t that bad and they have genuine excuses to be where they are.”

@Ta_Mundra: “Sharks is seriously not a coached side… emotions and candid loyalties aside, Plumtree has always been mediocre.”

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@Phumlani1106: “People say Plumtree is the problem, forgetting he is the 3rd coach in 5 years and has had the same issue as others… To be honest, those Boks should be playing overseas but they don’t need the money because they’re paid well here. Whoever comes in, if Plumtree gets fired, should make the core of the team non-Boks and have everyone fight for a starting place.”

@simonfeesh: “Literally the worst best team ever. On paper, this team should be dominating. But they are disjointed, lack cohesion and seem to have no vision. And that’s a coaching issue. Plumtree is not the coach we need. I love the Sharks, but I stopped watching.”

@Klipkop007: “Mr Masotti, the Sharks are haemorrhaging fans and supporters. May l be frank, they have played ugly rugby this entire season which is dreadful to watch. If l had to convince someone to become a rugby supporter, the Sharks are the last team I’ll show him. FIRE PLUMTREE & CO NOW!”

@tyrescekyle: “Franco, Ackermann, and Nienaber would all have this team dominate the URC. Plumtree seems to have no tactics just sit back and hope our stars carry us to victory through individual brilliance.”

@SuhailHunter08: “Hope Plumtree gets the sack. It’s unacceptable with this amount of Boks in the team to play this crap, the entire season mostly that is.”

@rickarjunan: “Springbok-laden team but been so disjointed this season. Just the individual brilliance in certain games pulled us through. Plumtree unfortunately not up to it. We need an efficient coach.”

@sean_draxie: “He has been a very mediocre coach all his life. For the talent he had at his disposal, he has done so poorly. John Smit and a lot of the hierarchy at the Sharks have kept Plumtree employed.”

@jacquesmoller: “2nd tenure Plumtree has had with the strongest squad in SA. He didn’t win Super Rugby the first time. The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

@StormMurphy7: “Those players are a different beast when playing for the Bokke… That’s why it is so confusing! Sorry to say Plumtree is not and never has been the coach for them. They need a complete overhaul in that department.”

@Sporting_Around: “Plumtree being paid for nothing. Just on cruise control. No clue. Not willing to make necessary changes. Just hoping for miracles. So many players having shocking performances. Rassie MUST be careful. That squad is carrying dead weight!!!”

@AngaGolimpi: “We’re not asking for much, please get rid of Plumtree.”

@Sptberserker: “This was such a bad performance and what p***es us off is it’s the same thing every week and nothing changes. It was JP Pietersen who won us the Currie Cup and Plumtree gets credit. How long before change happens? We love the team so much and hate to see this badge let down.”

@A_Snazzy8: “This is what we get for the blind loyalty awarded to Plumtree.”

@Phleb_Madasa: “I have never been convinced by John Plumtree, especially this season. Sharks have the best players this season. But the Bulls have been properly coached.”

@Die_Revenant: “Majority of the people calling for Plumtree out aren’t Sharks fans. Like bitter Twitter accounts who live in Doha and only care about selling hoodies. Plumtree is not going anywhere I can assure you.”

@dk_dax: “I hate Jake White but will support the Bulls with a sore heart. Purely for patriotism. John Plumtree must go.”

@ColmTonge: “Another car crash. How is Plumtree still in a job?”

@meaniepants_Esq: “Your love affair with the very pedestrian Plumtree has to end or else nothing will change.”

@jjsalmo: “Plumtree can’t be in place next season.”

@LadyLessss: “Plumtree should go. Please, we are scrapping and making idiots out of legends.”

@jmmagwaza: “What has Siya Kolisi as a player done for the Sharks? How can a team full of Springboks be so poor the entire season? Is Plumtree the right coach after the struggles of the season?”

@keenan_kro: “It’s time to let Plumtree go. He can’t get the best out of this squad full of Springboks. We’ve had enough.”

@Timo2536: “Sharks are a far cry to their good old days. Been so poor and boring to watch. Plumtree has taken the team backwards.”

@baba_kaDojakati: “Make the call Marco, Plumtree has to go. FIRST FLIGHT TOMORROW MORNING.”

@Dlamaqhinga: “The club must fire Plumtree.”

@T_Tshose: “Sack John Plumtree Now!!! This team lacks an identity, smarts and discipline. Bring in Nienaber.”

@SelaMalesela: “The Sharks need to fire John Plumtree and at least try to bring in Jimmy Stonehouse or Franco Smith.”

@db_hoffmann: “This feels different, this team is so talented but just look BADLY COACHED. Questions to be asked!”

@Dubz_cs_Kitsh: “John Plumtree didn’t have a game plan in all honesty.”

@AceMalusi: “This is it for Plumtree! Should have been replaced a long time ago!!”

@A_Snazzy8: “This Sharks experiment will be deemed a failure because this coach (Plumtree) couldn’t build a unit. He thought fantasy rugby was enough.”

@Civashe28: “The Sharks quite literally have no game plan, no tactics. Just pick and go and 3 wide to wide and kick it up. Plumtree needs to go.”

@Lloydbhudda: “John Plumtree, please have some shame and hand in your resignation.”

READ MORE: Sharks player ratings: Springboks veteran has an ‘absolute mare’ while Hendrikse brothers fail to connect

Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/john-plumtree-accused-of-making-idiots-out-of-legends-as-sharks-fans-call-for-him-to-be-sacked