John Plumtree knew his luck had finally changed when just before kick-off, he looked to the box on his right to see his wife and two sons waving at him.
They had arrived at the stadium half an hour before kick-off after travelling from Dubai and had been doubtful of making the match.
“That was the first good news of the week,” Plumtree smiled.
“It had been a nightmare preparation, with the doctor knocking on my door constantly with more bad news, so to get a win with a team missing eight first-choice forwards and before a big, festive crowd, was brilliant.”
The jubilant coach admitted that if he was opposite number Jake White, he would have been “licking lips” at the (under) strength of the opposition.
“I have been coaching a long time and much of it has been with the Sharks and now and again you get one of those special wins that you treasure for life because it required something unique for it to happen.
“This is one of those prized wins and it is in my top ten of most enjoyable because it was against the odds if you look at the size and physicality of the Bulls pack and the inevitable pressure we were under in the set pieces.
“We had to find a way, we had to make the most of the scraps we picked up and it required individuals doing something brilliant now and again, be it Makazole Mapimpi plucking the ball out of the air or Ethan Hooker chasing a kick and forcing a penalty try.”
During the week, the Sharks lost Eben Etzebeth (he failed a concussion test), Siya Kolisi (calf strain on Thursday) while Lock Emile van Heerden and Dylan Richardson were late withdrawals because of flu picked up on the flight home from Leicester.
“The Bulls use their strong set piece to give them momentum and territory and with our pack expected to be under pressure, we planned to use our midfield to get us over the gain line. I thought Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker were outstanding in that regard.
“And I can’t speak highly enough of Ox Nche’s contribution. We were struggling but Ox’s experience came through strongly and he brought a lot of calmness. I could see him talking to the younger boys all the time.
“(Lock) Jason Jenkins was equally impressive, and Manu Tshituka was simply outstanding and deserved the Player of the Match award.”
Plumtree said his heart sank when hooker Ethan Bester went off concussed after about 15 minutes.
“I thought, ‘Surely not another injury’ but I had a feeling young Bryce Calvert would be up to it. He is our fourth-choice hooker and was very nervous before the game. I had to sit down and have a conversation with him, but he came through really well. I think he will have a good time out tonight!”
Plumtree was full of praise for the Hendrikse brothers, who ran the game from 9 and 10.
“Jordan keeps growing another arm and a leg while I thought Jaden was brilliant. That was his best game for a long time,” the coach said.
The Sharks turn their attention to the Stormers match this weekend and Plumtree is hoping for reinforcements.
“Hopefully we will get some bodies back. Eben and Siya should be alright and Dylan and Emile should be over their illness.
“The main thing is that we will go to Cape Town with some confidence and we will need that because playing the Stormers away is one of the tougher challengers in the competition.”