JP's stark realities as a rookie coach
REACTION: Sharks coach JP Pietersen is in the doldrums of a tough European competition as a young, new coach having to juggle Springbok rest protocols and blooding young players, all while trying to bring home the results.
The Bulls’ demolition job of the Sharks in their 41-12 seven-tries-to-two hammering at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday left Pietersen having to face the stark reality of high-pressure coaching, having Springboks out due to rest protocols, players injured left, right, and centre, and youngsters not yet fully ready to make the big step up.
The result saw the Sharks slip to 11th in the standings and, with only six games to go, have a tough road ahead to try and sneak into the Top Eight.
“We lost two games if you look at our away record,” Pietersen said, referring to the time since he took over as coach.
“So obviously we are not good away from home. We can get better. Obviously, we’ve had disruption with the Springbok rest period, six weeks, eight weeks.
“Can you build cohesion? It’s hard to build cohesion when you are resting seven players
“The question is always as a sportsman, as a rugby player: You are either going to stand up, or you are going to lie down. I played this game for a long time.
“The old Sharks team probably would’ve gotten 60 points. That shows there is something we’ve got, and something we can work on.
“And it is something I identified when I took the job that I am working on.
“And it will take time. It is a transition,” and added, “It is inconsistency from us as a group, and it just points to who is good enough that will kick on, and who is not good enough to kick on.”
The Sharks’ biggest problem over the past few years has been when their large contingent of Bok players is unavailable for selection, as their form seems to dive during those periods.
“Because you can’t depend on Springboks the whole time.
“We get them all back for the Munster game, but then we lost [Aphelele] Fassi, we lost Jaden [Hendrike] now, and Jaco [Jaco Williams].
“Most of our loosies are injured – Manu [Tshituka], Nick Hatton, Emile [van Heerden] – all starting guys that we are missing, that are not Springboks.
“When I took the interim job, I wanted to make the place better, and sometimes you have to go backwards to go forward.
“It’s a learning curve for me. How do I manage the players? Maybe not rest all of them together; have a good mix of youngsters and Springboks.
“I will figure it out, I will get it right.”
