Rugby: Kiwi to help Springboks defend title

New Zealander John Plumtree, whose Sharks are flying high in the Super 14, is on the verge of joining the Springboks and helping guide their defence of the World Cup crown.

Plumtree would add to a list of New Zealanders involved with other test nations, including Australian coach Robbie Deans, Warren Gatland (Wales) and John Kirwan (Japan).

Plumtree would initially be a technical adviser on the breakdown for the Springboks, who are coached by Peter de Villiers. Another Natal luminary, Dick Muir, is the backs coach and the Stormers' Gary Gold guides the forwards. "We're still negotiating and it would be an advising role for the moment but Peter, Dick and Gary want me to get more involved for the 2011 World Cup," Plumtree told the Herald.

The 45-year-old Plumtree, a former Taranaki and Hawkes Bay forward, has a long association with South African rugby, starting as a player during the great Natal era of the early 1990s.

He also coached Wellington for four seasons - taking them to three NPC finals - and was an All Blacks video analyst for John Mitchell. One of Plumtree's uncles, Murray Wills, was a Taranaki rugby stalwart and brief All Black in the 1960s.

Plumtree said from South Africa that if negotiations were successful, he would join the Springboks' management for the three-test series against the British Lions in June and July, and on the European tour in November.

Plumtree coached Natal to the Currie Cup last season and his provincial duties would prevent him having a major input during this year's Tri-Nations. He is in his first season as coach of the Sharks, who have yet to win the Super 14. Under Plumtree's guidance, they have lost just one out of eight matches and are title favourites.

"New Zealand has always been first choice for me but South Africa is pretty close behind," said Plumtree, whose wife Lara is South African.

Plumtree wanted the Hurricanes Super 14 coaching job but accepted that Colin Cooper deserved retention.

"After four years with Wellington, I had to ask how long would it be before I got a chance. I had to take the opportunities over here," he said.

He would move into a Springboks job only with Natal's blessing.