Pietersen Targets Stormers-Level Performances As Sharks Prepare For Bulls Clash
Sharks interim coach JP Pietersen has expressed his desire to see the Durban-based side perform at a level similar to that of the DHL Stormers, who have enjoyed an impressive start to the season.
The Stormers have been the standout team in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) so far, winning all six of their matches to sit comfortably at the top of the standings. John Dobson’s side has also topped Pool 3 of the Investec Champions Cup, claiming victories in both of their opening fixtures.
Pietersen, who was appointed interim coach following the departure of John Plumtree, enjoyed a winning start to his tenure when the Sharks defeated English side Saracens in the Investec Cup at Kings Park Stadium last weekend.
He will take charge of his second match on Saturday when the Sharks host the Blue Bulls at Kings Park, as URC action resumes.
“It’s a credit to Dobbo — I think he has done a phenomenal job with the group of players he has,” Pietersen said.
“I think the squad has been together throughout the entire pre-season. He only lost three Springbok players — Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Ben-Jason Dixon — but the group remained cohesive.
“They had a good pre-season, and credit must go to the coaching staff for the work they’ve done at the Stormers. Is it something we want to build towards? Yes. It’s something we want to build as a team, but I don’t want to go too far with that.”
While the Stormers had only three players away with the Springboks — who retained the Rugby Championship and went unbeaten on the year-end tour of Europe — the situation was very different for the Sharks.
The Durban side had the largest representation in the national team, including Aphelele Fassi, Bongi Mbonambi, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, and André Esterhuizen, among others.
Kolisi, Hooker, Mbonambi, Williams and Esterhuizen will all start for the Sharks when they host the Bulls in Saturday’s URC clash.
However, the Sharks face a Bulls side currently struggling under new head coach Johan Ackermann, having won three and lost three of their six URC matches. The Pretoria-based team has also lost both of their fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup.
“The win is always important. It gives us belief,” Pietersen said of the victory over Saracens.
“It gives you something to build on. A win provides motivation and confidence going into the next game. We know the clash against the Bulls won’t be easy — they’re also desperate — but it’s going to be a great challenge.”
