Sharks coach JP Pietersen was still processing the significance of his team’s second bonus-point win in as many weeks as he reflected on their impressive 26-20 defeat of defending champions Leinster at Kings Park.
The Sharks now sit proudly at the top of the URC table after their opening-round win over Ospreys, followed by a victory over one of the competition’s traditional powerhouses.
“It’s really special to win against the champions, against Leinster,” Pietersen said. “To get five points, it’s really special.
“We’ll enjoy this win. I don’t think you get it, but I’m still processing. You can see I’m stuttering. I’m still processing that we’ve won two and got 10 points. It’s just unreal scenes today.”
The Sharks led 14-7 at half-time through tries by Manu Tshituka and Lili Bester, but Leinster fought their way back into the contest and briefly threatened to turn the match.
It was then that the Sharks’ returning Springboks made their presence felt.
@iol.sport
The Bok season might be over, but the URC is just heating up with a fresh wave of local talent. 🏉 In this week’s episode, the panel breaks down the youngsters ready to light up the weekend. We’re talking the Sharks’ electric new backline, rumors of Yakin Ahmed starting for the Stormers, Ethan Adams bringing the power for the Lions, and why Stravino Jacobs needs a run at 12 for the Bulls. Plus, someone is still living off last week’s Wallabies prediction—and taking plenty of flak for it. 📺 Catch the full breakdown dropping today at 6 PM on YouTube over on the IOL channels! LIVE AT 6PM #URC #Rugby #SouthAfricaRugby #IOLSport #RugbyPodcast
♬ original sound – IOL Sport
Eben Etzebeth produced a sensational break and offload in the build-up to André Esterhuizen’s try, before Edwill van der Merwe intercepted a pass and raced clear to secure the bonus point and effectively settle the contest.
Thomas du Toit was equally influential in the scrums, while the returning Springboks showed why Pietersen had been so keen to have them back in the Sharks fold.
“I was quite nervous before the game,” Pietersen admitted. “We had only one training session with them on Thursday, but it showed their eliteness and how good they are as players and professionals.
“We needed an injection after Leinster scored, so Eben was outstanding with that transition try which André scored, and then Edwill finished it off with the intercept try. It just shows what they bring.
“For the rest of the group, it’s all about doing the right things, letting the system work, and letting the Springboks just do their thing when they need to.”
For Pietersen, however, the significance of the victory went beyond the contribution of the returning internationals.
The Sharks had spent their pre-season building a culture in which every player understood his role, and the coach believes that foundation allowed the Springboks to slot seamlessly back into the side after their international commitments.
“It’s all about players buying into the plan,” he said. “We created a culture during pre-season where the players can be themselves and play the game they want to play.
“We all made a collective decision on the vision and goals we want, and you could see today that the buy-in from the players as a collective is one of a team that really wants to win.”
Pietersen said it was particularly encouraging that the Springboks themselves had been eager to return to Durban and contribute to the Sharks’ campaign.
“For the Boks to come in and just be themselves, not go overboard, and feel it’s their responsibility to help the Sharks, that’s something we must treasure,” he said.
“The 80 percent of the group that stayed behind created this platform for the Boks to be themselves and the best version of themselves and perform.
“It’s great to see when players want to play. I don’t see them as Springboks; I see them as Sharks players.
“They indicated before the Springboks’ Test against Australia that they wanted to come back and be part of it, and it showed today.
“They’re elite players, and for them to get a taste of this today is something we must treasure.”
Pietersen was also careful not to get carried away by Leinster’s struggles. The Irish giants are still searching for their first win of the new URC season and were without some of their leading players.
“I’m a realist – that’s not Leinster’s best of the best,” Pietersen said.
“But you can see they put us under pressure because they’ve got a good system, a good coach and a good organisation. Their players know what to do, and they know how to win as defending champions.
“For us as a group, we must just be present, take this win and regroup on Monday to see where we can get better.
“We’ve got another beast waiting for us in Cape Town on Saturday.”
