Pietersen Looks Beyond Scoreboard As Sharks Learn from All Blacks Test

The scoreboard may not have been what the Hollywoodbets Sharks wanted, but for head coach JP Pietersen, the experience of facing the All Blacks at Kings Park provided something far more valuable for his young squad.

In testing conditions, with persistent rain leaving the field saturated, the Sharks were unable to score in a 54-0 defeat in which they conceded eight tries. The result came in front of a crowd of 14,759, who witnessed a one-sided encounter on a difficult evening for the Durban side.

Despite going into half-time 14-0 down, the Sharks were unable to match New Zealand’s intensity as the match progressed, eventually being overpowered by an All Blacks side that showcased its class and cohesion.

However, Pietersen was proud of the effort his players showed from the opening whistle.

“The scoreboard is not nice to see, but the boys fought from minute one to minute 80,” Pietersen said.

For many of the Sharks’ youngsters, the occasion itself was something they never imagined experiencing. Playing the All Blacks at Kings Park, facing the famous haka and sharing the field with some of rugby’s most renowned players provided memories that will stay with them for years.

“After the game, it was good to see the youngsters interact with those sitting opposite them, just to talk about the occasion,” Pietersen said.

“They all said that playing the All Blacks at Kings Park was something they could never have imagined, especially having the opportunity to face the haka.”

One of the most memorable moments came before kick-off when former All Blacks star Ma’a Nonu responded to the haka with an individual haka of his own.

Pietersen revealed that Nonu had spoken to the All Blacks and former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga about the traditions surrounding the haka before deciding how to respond.

“With the haka, he had a chat with the All Blacks and Tana Umaga about the traditions and how you respond, and we said doing the haka back is a sign of respect to the All Blacks,” Pietersen explained.

“It was beautiful, but he was nervous to do it by himself,” Pietersen added with a chuckle. “I got goosebumps when I saw it.”

While the occasion was special, Pietersen acknowledged the gulf in preparation between the two teams. The Sharks are still in pre-season, while the All Blacks arrived with confidence, cohesion and a level of match readiness that ultimately proved decisive.

“It was a beautiful occasion, but being in pre-season, we knew it was going to be difficult to keep up,” said the 2007 Rugby World Cup winner.

“They are playing with confidence and cohesion, and it showed in the second half.”

The Sharks struggled to contain New Zealand’s tempo after the break, with the All Blacks repeatedly winning the small battles that ultimately created the bigger moments.

“We couldn’t match their speed in the second half. We were just behind in everything they did,” Pietersen said.

“Every breakdown, every offload, every ball on the floor – they were just getting every offload.”

For the Sharks, however, the value of the occasion extends beyond the result, particularly when it comes to the influence of Nonu.

The 44-year-old former All Blacks centre joined the Sharks as a mentor, bringing with him a wealth of international experience that Pietersen believes can have a significant impact on the franchise’s young players.

“He’s been good for the group, especially the backs, where we have so much youth,” explained the Sharks head coach.

Nonu’s role is not limited to technical rugby lessons. Pietersen believes his experience and professionalism can help the Sharks’ youngsters understand what is required to build long and successful careers.

“He has been good in that space,” Pietersen said, referring to Nonu’s influence on preparation, warm-ups and developing the right mindset for training and competition.

“He came here as a mentor and to help the juniors. He is here for three months,” revealed Pietersen.

Most importantly, Pietersen says, Nonu has been brought in to help shape the culture around the Sharks’ young players and support the coaching staff during a period of transition.

“Most importantly, it’s to help off the field with the youth and coaching staff.”

“He has heaps of experience around the world, and we are building a culture with a transition of bringing youngsters through. There is no better role model than Ma’a to teach them how to ensure they have longevity in their careers.”