'Players do move': Plumtree responds to comments on Bok

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach John Plumtree says there is no escaping the reality of players switching teams.

Earlier this month, Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson revealed that they have Sharks and Springbok prop Ntuthuko Mchunu on their radar after the Capetonians suffered several front row injuries.

“If you look at our loosehead roster, it’s Ali [Vermaak], Steve [Steven Kitshoff], Lizo Gqoboka all carrying injuries in some form and they’re senior props, so a 24 or 25-year-old Springbok like that would be a great addition,” Dobson said at the time.

After the Sharks 41-24 victory over Munster this past Saturday, Plumtree was asked for his thoughts on the speculation surrounding Mchunu’s playing future.

“The challenge for us is to keep this team together, but the reality is players do move,” said Plumtree.

“We’ve got owners and there’s a lot of decisions to make around who comes and who stays.

“We’ve got budgets and losing any quality player is not what I want to do, but the reality of this business is that it can happen.

“If a player leaves then good luck, but we will replace him with someone else.

“In any quality team, no one is irreplaceable.”

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