Pietersen Admits Painful First Defeat
Sharks coach JP Pietersen admits that despite spending many years in rugby and winning the Rugby World Cup as a player, losing his first senior match as a head coach was particularly painful.
The Sharks’ two-match winning run under Pietersen came to an end on Saturday after a narrow 23–22 defeat to a spirited Emirates Lions side in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park Stadium.
Lions utility back Hassiem Pead scored the match-winning try at the death, peeling off the back of a lineout maul to seal a famous victory and underline the Johannesburg side’s resurgence this season.
It marked the Lions’ third victory over the Sharks in Durban in as many Vodacom United Rugby Championship visits.
“It hurts, especially at home,” said Pietersen.
“With the crowd cheering us on, you could feel something was coming. It hurts and it will take time to process, but I’m proud of the boys. They fought and gave everything on the field. The Lions were just better on the day.”
Remarkably, the Lions played more than 30 minutes with 14 men after Ruan Venter was sin-binned and then red-carded for 20 minutes for a head-on collision with Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi.
However, instead of capitalising on the numerical advantage, the Sharks were unable to take control as the Lions showed immense resolve, contesting every set piece, driving mauls and shutting down line breaks from a Springbok-laden Sharks side that welcomed back powerful prop Ox Nche.
When Bongi Mbonambi and Nche were withdrawn late in the match, the Lions gained the upper hand in the scrum, turning over key set pieces and halting the Sharks’ attacking momentum.
The visitors also rode their luck when Siya Kolisi knocked the ball forward as he was about to dive over for what could have been a crucial try for the Durban-based side.
“The Lions didn’t play the whole second half with 14 men; obviously there was a card for 20 minutes and we did score tries,” Pietersen added.
“I think we scored four and they scored three, but we didn’t convert enough. Just after half-time, if you look at the first 10 minutes, we probably dominated possession and territory.
“We just couldn’t convert our opportunities.”
