Springbok reinforcements incoming: JP Pietersen welcomes back stars after Sharks’ discipline blowout against Lions

Perhaps the most significant thing Sharks coach JP Pietersen said at his post-match press conference after losing 34-22 to the Lions at Ellis Park were his very last words.

“Yes, our Springbok players will be back for the Bulls this week,” he said, before trailing off to the change room.

The significance is that Pietersen had just learned the hard way that the Sharks are a different team without their key Springboks. It is something John Plumtree had to live with for large chunks of the seasons.

While the number of Springbok players rested for the weekend’s match was not excessive, it is the calibre of player that is crucial. Andre Esterhuizen is a giant not just in body but in his leadership; Ox Nche is one of the best props in the world; Siya Kolisi is a worldwide legend and has a huge presence in games; Grant Williams is one of the game’s most lethal attackers, as is Ethan Hooker.

Bongi Mbonambi and Makazole Mapimpi could also have helped steady the ship.

Those players are hugely influential. I am not saying the Sharks definitely would have won had that group played, but the team would have had better direction, and discipline would have been better.

I wonder if Jaden Hendrikse would have dived into a ruck to kill the ball if Esterhuizen and Kolsisi were nearby, and if he had, he would have got a good ticking off — while the scrumhalf was in the sin bin, the Lions scored 14 points.

Pietersen admitted that leadership had been an issue without the aforementioned Boks.

“The other individuals need to step up,” Pietersen said.

"Some of them are in transition and learning to become leaders, but that’s part of the process. But in general, the performance was poor. We did some good stuff, but we couldn’t back it up.”

Pietersen said that while the yellow card was costly, there was much more to the defeat.

“We defended well until the card. But was it only the yellow card? I don’t think so,” said Pietersen.

“We had a kick-off, they put a little kick through, and the ball went through Aphelele Fassi’s legs. Those are controllables. If we had gathered that ball and gone forward, it would have been a different ball game.

“The way rugby works, you have to defend to get the ball back. When you get it back, you get territory, and from territory you must build pressure,” Pietersen explained. “We never did that. We never turned pressure into points. We were just absorbing pressure.”

One of the few shining lights for the Sharks was Jurenzo Julius, who was being trialed at inside centre. He usually plays 13.

“He was very good today,” Pietersen said of the stocky 21-year-old. Julius had several blistering breaks and scored a try. “I love the way he backs himself.

“His decision-making was good, and he showed what he can do at 12. In the modern game, you need to play more than one position. If he can master 13 and 12, he’s a proper weapon for us.”

Pietersen said the Sharks have to pull their socks up before heading to Pretoria to play a Bulls side that is on a strong upward trajectory.

“We’ll look at what we can do better and how we can limit our soft errors and soft moments,” he said. “The boys are hurting in the change room.”

*Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch. He is the author of the best-selling books The Fireside Springbok and Bok to Bok.