"It's very upsetting, actually," Plumtree says. "When I was here in Taranaki [previously], the Hurricanes were always the team, and to come up here for holidays [this week] and know I'm in the Chiefs region doesn't sit right with me. So I'm sure there are plenty of people here who still support the Hurricanes - I know there are."
Those allegiances will be put to the test when the Chiefs host the Hurricanes at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth in the final round of next season's Super Rugby competition. But rather than focus on winning popularity contests, Plumtree has more pressing concerns with the Hurricanes.
One of the main ones is developing more players who bleed black and yellow, like stalwarts Conrad Smith and Jeremy Thrush.
Mark Hammett was never fully accepted as the Hurricanes coach during his reign from 2011-14, as a parochial fanbase struggled with seeing a Cantabrian in their ranks.
Like Plumtree, Boyd is homegrown and is Wellington Lions coach.
"Senior players, All Blacks within the group, have to step up and play consistently really well every week and drive the younger players right behind them," Plumtree says. "I think that's crucial.
"We can't have players who just want to be All Blacks and are not that keen on the Hurricanes. We've got to make sure they're totally focused on winning for the Hurricanes and the region and, from what I hear from all the individuals in the group who are involved in the All Blacks, they're all pretty much like that."
Plumtree's comments about commitment may have been delivered with a slight nod to the attitude issues of old, which plagued the Hurricanes during the late 2000s before Hammett cleared out players he deemed unsuitable for the team's culture. Second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu is one and, after flitting between the Blues and Highlanders, has been welcomed back to the capital for 2015. Nonu was moved on by Hammett after the 2011 season.
The culture in the Hurricanes' changing room took positive steps under Hammett and it will be up to Boyd and Plumtree to build on that.
The pair worked together at the Sharks when Plumtree was in charge, but the impending role reversal at the Hurricanes doesn't bother either man.
Boyd has endured a woeful ITM Cup campaign with Wellington but Plumtree insists the former New Zealand under-20s coach won't have any problems at Super Rugby level.
"Among his peers, Boydy's very much respected by other coaches in the country and he's very driven in his job," Plumtree says. "I just feel sorry for him this year and, don't worry, there's no one hurting more about the situation at Wellington than him. It's been a hard couple of months for him."
Plumtree has wanted to coach the Hurricanes in some capacity since he was in charge of Wellington. He was disappointed to miss out in 2006 but his time with the Sharks, a side he represented as a player during the 1980s and 90s, helped him develop as a coach.
"When you're in your 30s and coaching a province and having success, you think you've made it," he reflects. "You think you know pretty much everything about the game and then 10 years later you think, 'jeepers, I was pretty fresh then' ... But I feel comfortable coaching at this level. I feel like I've gathered knowledge and information."
Plumtree intends to pass that knowledge on to the Hurricanes as they look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
They will confirm their final few contracted players in the coming weeks and will assemble late next month for pre-season training.
