JP Pietersen confident Sharks can confound critics and upset Stormers on their home turf

On paper, there is more chance of pigs flying over the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday than the 14th-placed Sharks beating the log-leading Stormers, but rugby is played on grass, and JP Pietersen says his team is going to the Cape to win.

If the Sharks get that right, it will be their first away victory over the Stormers in United Rugby Championship history. Four previous Sharks teams have failed.

“Paper tells a different story (to reality),” smiled Pietersen. “What we see in our camp is how we can get better and improve from our last game. The mindset is to go down to Cape Town and give it a full go.

“What is my message to the players? Go out and win the game. That is why we play,” the coach added before pointing out the historical closeness of the matches between the rivals.

“If you look at the last four games in Cape Town, there’s been about five points in it. The margins have been close,” he said. “Hopefully, we can rewrite the story this weekend.”

Pietersen has picked some serious firepower on the bench in Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Bok prop Ox Nche, and flank Vincent Tshituka as he looks to combat a Stormers bench that has been their team’s saving grace in recent fixtures.

“It’s a match-23 game now. It’s not starters and bench — it’s a collective, but I won’t say it’s a Bomb Squad,” Pietersen said. “I think our guys who started last week against Clermont put their hands up and deserve to start again. We take a lot of confidence out of that game (the Sharks won 50-12).

“If you look at the mix for this week, it’s a good team that starts and a great team to finish the game,” the coach said.

It is not difficult to look at the Sharks’ starting lineup and wonder where the tip of their attacking spear will be — Springboks Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker have returned from national resting protocols to form a potent midfield.

Until fairly recently, Hooker has been used on the wing at the Sharks and the Springboks, but under Pietersen, he has been redirected to centre, his favoured position, where he has combined superbly with Esterhuizen.

“They’re experienced players,” Pietersen said. “Andre is our captain, and both are current Springboks. There will be pressure and transitions, and how we deal with that under pressure is key. With those two, we’re confident we can do the job.”

While two Boks return to the backline, two drop out because of injury, in Makazole Mapimpi and Edwill van der Merwe. They are replaced by Junior Bok Jaco Williams and the experienced Yaw Penxe.

“It’s a great opportunity for Jaco,” Pietersen said of the 20-year-old product of Glenwood High School in Durban. “What better test than against the best? He’s ready for it.”

How much ball the likes of Williams and fullback Aphelle Fassi get depends on how the Sharks forwards deal with a potent Stormers pack.

“They’ve got a strong set-piece, they maul well, and when they get into your 22, they come away with points,” Pietersen acknowledged. “It starts with stopping their gainline. If you can do that, you give yourself a chance.”

Sharks team for Stormers

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Yaw Penxe/PK Sobahle, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.

Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jurenzo Julius.