Coach JP Pietersen didn't hold back after the Sharks' frustrating 21-17 loss to Ospreys. From missed opportunities in the 22 to a controversial call for uncontested scrums, it was a night of "what ifs" in Wales.
Image: Backpagepix
There will be something of a Sharks reunion on Friday night in Edinburgh when the Sharks do battle with the Scots at the Hive Stadium.
Current Sharks coach JP Pietersen is up against a former Sharks coach in Edinburgh boss Sean Everitt; Everitt’s assistant coach Scott Mathie is finishing up at Edinburgh at the end of the URC and is joining Pietersen’s staff for the next season; and former Sharks utility forward Dylan Richardson is in the Edinburgh match-23.
When Pietersen was finishing up as a player, Everitt was coaching at the Sharks, so he could not know Everitt’s rugby views better.
“I played under Sean, so I know his philosophy and the way he thinks about the game,” Pietersen grinned during a media conference in the Scottish capital. “It will be weird going up against him.”
“On Scotty (Mathie), I played against him when he was the scrumhalf at Griquas, and he will be joining the Sharks as our attack coach. It’s exciting to match up against them in what will be a very interesting match because we know each other so well.”
Pietersen said that the Edinburgh side are renowned for their willingness to attack, but are not afraid to play the territory game.
“Edinburgh are very good with their kicking game, with their exits, and they’ve got a solid pack with Pierre Schoeman anchoring in the front row.
“They like to be physical, and they’ve got a good maul, so when they get into the 22, they can convert it into points.
“They’ve also got a good phase attack – they can hold the ball for long, and we have prepped for that. We have to be ready to defend for long periods.”
“As a defensive unit and a group, we know they’re going to try and move us around and maybe put the ball in behind to turn us. That will be one of the key factors.”
Pietersen has kept team changes to a minimum, with Makazole Mapimpi replacing the injured Ethan Hooker, André Esterhuizen moving to outside centre for injured Le Roux Malan, and Siya Masuku coming into the side at 12 for Esterhuizen.
“I did not want to make changes because it is a short week,” Pietersen said. “We don’t want to do any reshuffling or move players around too much. We want to keep the same combinations, which is why we stuck with what we finished with against the Ospreys.”
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will make his comeback from a calf injury from the bench in what will be his 50th match for the Sharks.
“Siya is a special human, and we want to make it memorable for him tomorrow,” Pietersen said. “That’s a small thing we can do tomorrow as a group, so we’ll fight for him.”
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13, Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 12 Siya Masuku, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Siya Kolisi, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Marnus Potgieter.