‘Another Beast Waiting’: Pietersen Issues Warning After Sharks Stun Leinster
Hollywoodbets Sharks coach JP Pietersen was pleased to see his returning Springbok stars step up to defeat heavily fancied Leinster in Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park.
However, Pietersen stressed that while the team will celebrate their bonus-point win, it will be back to work on Monday ahead of next Saturday’s huge coastal derby against the Stormers.
Several Springboks who featured in last weekend’s international against Australia were thrust straight into action by Pietersen. Eben Etzebeth played a pivotal role in setting up Andre Esterhuizen’s try following a brilliant linebreak from inside his own half.
Captain Esterhuizen scored that crucial second-half try, adding to earlier five-pointers from Manu Tshituka and Lili Bester in the first half.
Winger Edwill van der Merwe, who also featured in that experimental Bok side against Australia, sealed the result with an interception try, racing away untouched to score.
The victory marks two wins from two matches to start the campaign for the Sharks—a feat achieved only once before in the franchise’s URC history, during the 2021/22 season.
For Leinster, who have won just once in their last 10 visits to South Africa, the defeat capped a disappointing tour following last weekend’s loss to the Lions.
“I was quite nervous before the game, because we only had one training session with them — on Thursday,” Pietersen said of the Springboks, which included Ox Nche and Ethan Hooker, who has been outstanding for the Boks this season.
“But that showed their elitism and how good they are as players and professionals. They learned it quickly to get into the game, and they never looked off.
“We needed an injection after Leinster scored. Eben was outstanding from that transition try; Andre scored, and Edwill finished off from the interception. It just showed what they bring, and the rest of the group is all about doing the right things — the system, and letting the system work, and the Springboks doing their thing when they need to do.”
Although the Sharks ended their five-match losing streak against a Leinster side that has won the URC for the past two seasons, Pietersen admitted the victory needed to be put into context, with the Irish province not fielding its strongest possible side.
Several of Leinster’s leading players were rested following their summer tour, including injured captain Caelan Doris, while Springbok lock RG Snyman was also unavailable due to injury.
“We will take this win, and I am a coach and I’m a realistic man,” said Pietersen.
“It was not Leinster’s best of the best, so you can see they put us under pressure because they have a good system, a good coach, good organisation, and players know what to do.
“They know how to win; they are defending champions. We will take this win. But for us, as a group, we just have to take this win and regroup on Monday to get better.
“Because we’ve got another beast waiting for us in Cape Town on Saturday.”
The Sharks travel to DHL Stadium next weekend to face the Stormers, who lost to Edinburgh on Friday.
