Will JP's youth policy trump the Stormers again?
The Sharks, the most Springbok-laden franchise in the country, turned to raw rookies to upstage the Stormers last week.
The Stormers’ unbeaten run came to an end as they suffered a 19-30 home loss to the Sharks in front of a 52,087 Cape Town crowd.
However, it was a tactical ploy to throw hungry youngsters into the frontline that reaped the richest rewards.
For the Stormers, their record this year was finally broken, while it was the first-ever URC win in Cape Town for the Sharks.
They meet in the return fixture in Durban on Saturday, which may answer some more of Pietersen’s questions.
While Pietersen praised senior Springboks like Andre Esterhuizen, Ox Nche and Siya Kolisi, it is the grit and purposefulness of some of the younger players that impressed most.
“Young players like Nick Hatton and Phatu Ganyane put their hands up,” the coach said.
“Phatu [Ganyane] played hard for 30 minutes, testing himself against [Springbok] Neethling Fouché.
“He showed he belongs [at this level].
“If you looked at the games when he was on the bench, he would have played 10 minutes [at a time].
“I asked Phatu [Ganyane] to challenge themselves against a Neethling [Fouché], who is a Springbok, and he played for 30 minutes.
“I asked him to give his all for 30 minutes against the best team in the URC.
* (WATCH as Sharks coach JP Pietersen revealed how his youth policy paid rich dividends and gives him confidence for the future…..)
“We were able to see, as coaches, that he can do it.
“The same with Nick Hatton against Paul de Villiers. He had to show he could compete.
“I know what I have in Ox [Nche], Vincent Tshituka, Phepsi [Buthelezi] and Siya Kolisi.
“I needed to know with Nick Hatton and Phatu Ganyane, if they can compete and fight for the minutes they get.
“Young Jaco Williams on the wing was good under the high ball, and he tackled. For a 20-year-old, he did not look out of place.
“It is a massive confidence boost for us as a group, going forward and building.
“The young players are putting their hands up.”
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