Sharks' Currie Cup campaign not pretty but JP Pietersen has developed stars of the future

When JP Pietersen was a young Springbok, the team went through some tough periods, but nothing like the unforgiving world he has experienced as a coach in the Currie Cup.

Can there be a tougher job than grooming youngsters for the United Rugby Championship while trying to win and keep the public happy?

A public that at first did not understand that the Sharks were using the Currie Cup as a stepping stone to the URC, with Pietersen’s brief from John Plumtree simple —‘identify players that I can use in the URC.’

Pietersen’s brand new squad of youngsters started disastrously, with a 64-0 hammering by the Bulls.

“After that Bulls game, there was a lot of hurt and some hard talking,” said Pietersen.

“I said to the guys, we are crossing a bridge, are we all in, or are we going to jump off? They all said ‘No, we are all in’. That period wasn’t nice, and I could easily have gone to Plum and told him I am out if I didn’t get some URC players.

“But I didn’t do that. I am young in coaching, having been doing it for just four years, but I believe that it is important to remain true and honest with the players.

"I didn’t want to change what I had said to them when we first came together at the start of the season. I wanted them to know I retained my belief in them.

“On that Monday, amidst all the hurt and disappointment, I had one one-on-ones with the guys over the standard that was needed to play for the Sharks. They felt that five out of 10 was good enough.

"I said no, you have to operate between six and seven as a young group, and between seven and eight at URC level.

“We spoke about what it means to wear the Sharks jersey, and together with the help of captain Nick Hatton, who played a big role, what was needed was taken on board.

Pietersen’s youngsters got incrementally better as the season wore on and won their last three matches. But while a seventh-place finish doesn’t look good on paper, Pietersen succeeded in his mission to develop talent for Plumtree.

“If you look at how we progressed, then I think we can feel satisfied,” he said.

“As a coach, you have to decide how you will get the best from the group. I was challenging the players the whole time. I was always aware that many of them were not long out of high school, where they would usually have been winners, and would not be used to losing.

"So how they reacted to defeat was going to be part of their learning experience, and the challenge was to bounce back. I challenged them to do that.

“The idea was that when the campaign is finished, we had to be different from when we started. Every Monday was tackled with a positive mindset. There was always energy, heart, and the players were always challenging each other at training.”

“I had to constantly remind my younger players that the opposition weren’t better than them, they had just played together more often, particularly the smaller unions that had had the SA Cup.

Pietersen would like to see the Currie Cup played over two rounds so that youngsters have time to develop, or for the Sharks XV to play in the SA Cup during the season, parallel to the URC. This was the case years ago when the Vodacom Cup was played concurrently with Super Rugby.

“The youngsters are playing in a very tough environment, because they hardly play during the URC season, but then because of logistical challenges, they are suddenly required to jump in at Champions Cup level.

"Someone like Hakeem Kunene suddenly found himself facing the might of Bordeaux last season, in Bordeaux, which was one heck of a jump to have to make. We end up blooding guys in the Champions Cup, and that is very tough on the kids.

“These kids need rugby, and it takes time for youngsters to come through. Look at (flyhalf) Jean Smith. It took a while for him to find his feet. You need to give the players 10 games at least.”

Ultimately, Pietersen is satisfied that stars of the future were made in the Currie Cup.

“Nick Hatton stood out again, both as a leader and a player. Matt Ramao, the flanker, is the silent assassin. Vusi Moyo, the flyhalf, is another Junior Bok, and you can see his talent. Ceano Everson, the No 9, was good, Jean Smith excelled in his last game, and Albie Bester is just 20 but showed signs he can physically stand up as an inside centre. Jaco Williams is exciting. We just have to decide whether he is a wing or a fullback.”