Sharks team secured three victories in the European tour, and Ziyaya became the star of the matches

JP Pietersen, who dreamed of playing for the Sharks team as a child, is now doing something he could barely imagine as an eight-year-old boy after more than three decades: he is coaching the club he loved his entire life. And he is achieving significant success.

In the current season, the Sharks have won four out of five matches, defeating Ospreys, Leinster, and Cardiff in the URC, and have also started strongly in the Challenge Cup with an away victory over Lyon. The next difficult match is scheduled against Munster at Thomond Park stadium on Saturday, but Pietersen already sees signs that the fighting spirit and pride he aims to restore at Kings Park are beginning to show.

For 40-year-old Pietersen, this job goes beyond simply managing a rugby team; it has deep personal meaning. He recalls: 'I remember meeting Andre Joubert and Henry Honeyball when I was eight or nine years old. I was absolutely thrilled. Just being near them was unreal. That's when I first fell in love with the Sharks. Growing up, I was a Shark from day one. I liked their style of play.'

His dream led him through the gates of Kings Park after school in 2005. Even then, just being among the players he once idolized was almost overwhelming. His first appearance for the Sharks was against Boland in the Currie Cup. He laughs recalling: 'I walked onto the field, and people probably thought I was just a ball boy. I went into the dressing room and couldn't speak; I was so nervous. But then I came alive and scored two touchdowns. It was special.'

A year later, Pietersen played in green and gold, debuting for the Springboks against New Zealand. This was followed by a brilliant career, including three Rugby World Cups, 24 test touchdowns, appearances in Japan, England, and France, and 197 matches for his beloved Sharks. He notes: 'I am forever grateful for how the Sharks shaped me into the best person I am today. Summarizing the Sharks, this brand and organization gave me everything. The Sharks allowed me to travel the world and make friends abroad. This strengthened my resilience and positively impacted my life. I created many memories on the field, and it's time for us to create new ones.'

After retiring in 2021, Pietersen immediately moved into coaching, first working in the Sharks' youth structures, and then leading the Currie Cup team. In 2024, he led them to a domestic title, beating the Lions at Ellis Park. After John Plamtree's departure, he was appointed interim head coach of the Sharks last December and received a permanent appointment in February.

He draws on extensive experience gained under some of the most influential rugby coaches. He says his coaching style is a 'cross-pollination of influences.' He learned from Dick Muir the importance of building confidence and giving players freedom to make decisions. Plamtree, in turn, taught him the value of attacking ambition and the intolerance of complacency in a winning team. Jake White's analytical approach and unwavering belief in the game plan also left an indelible mark. Pietersen recalls White telling the players in Twickenham in 2006, after beating England, that they would win the World Cup the following year. 'I learned from Jake to be confident in our plan and see it through.'

He also learned lessons from other Springboks coaches. Pieter de Villiers showed him how to relieve pressure on players, and Heineke Maier impressed him with his focus on people and the contribution of individuals to the collective. Perhaps the most interesting coaching lesson came during two seasons in Japan under Robbie Deans, former Crusaders coach. 'I learned a lot from Robbie about analyzing individuals. He insisted on not becoming too emotional before a game, but being more technical and confident in the game plan. As a player, you are your own coach because you must analyze your opponent.'

These lessons are now part of Pietersen's own methods as he tries to bring the Sharks back to the qualities that made them such a formidable force. 'I wanted to bring back the fight and pride in the jersey, but not with words, but with actions. I want fans to see us fighting for 80 minutes. The Sharks have always been a team that never gives up. We always find a way to participate in the game or win it.' A satisfying example of this philosophy was the 36-21 victory over Cardiff at Arms Park. Losing 21-17 at the hour mark and battling the wind, the Sharks scored three touchdowns in the final quarter, securing five valuable points.

'It just shows the character and belief of the group,' says Pietersen. 'When we were under pressure, playing against the wind, the old Sharks could easily lose 50-17. But we held on despite the injuries sustained. A great thing about this team, the Sharks warriors, is that they found a way to cope with this and bond.'

Pietersen is satisfied with the progress but knows that the away match against Munster will be another serious test. 'We were delighted to get five points in Cardiff. But we are also keeping our feet on the ground, knowing that we have a huge match against Munster in Limerick.'

His sporting philosophy is simple and based on determination, which led him from a dreamer-schoolboy to a Springboks star, and now to head coach. 'I always say that the impossible does not exist. I wasn't the most talented guy, but I believe that with hard work and a big dream, anything can be achieved. Dream, work hard, be disciplined, be brave, and show yourself. We worry so much about what might go wrong that sometimes we forget what awaits us.'

The Sharks demonstrated their resilience in the United Rugby Championship (URC) match, which was played in rainy conditions, securing a deserved 15-3 victory over Munster in Ireland. This win marked the first for the Sharks at Thomond Park stadium.

Despite the poor playing conditions, the visitors proved significantly stronger than the hosts in front of a hostile Irish crowd. Thanks to this hard-fought victory, the team climbed to fourth place in the URC table before the November break.

The Sharks joined Bulls (second place) and Stormers (third place) in the top four leaders, showcasing the strength of South African teams early in the season. The game was characterized by intense struggle, as the rain turned the ball into a slippery object.

The action began in the 15th minute when Sharks substitute Zek Siyaya created the first touchdown through an impressive break and chase of the ball. After an inaccurate kick from Munster, winger Edwil van der Merwe picked up the ball and passed it to Siyaya. The young player, named Man of the Match, went past two defenders, made a pass, and reached the ball. Since Munster could not handle the defense, flyhalf Gianni Lombard collected the ball and put his team ahead.

The visitors' defense also performed throughout the match, forcing opponents to constantly lose possession due to hard tackles, especially close to their own try line. Although Munster repeatedly entered the Sharks' attacking zone, every time it was repelled. Ultimately, they managed to convert a penalty, leading to a 5-3 score at halftime.

Second Half Action

For most of the second half, particularly in the first quarter, the same scenario persisted. Handling errors made the game intermittent after the break. The Sharks gained dominance through the scrum and, despite Ox Nche receiving a yellow card, remained the team controlling the flow of the game.

After an excellent turnover on the out-side line around the 60th minute, lock Emile van Heerden threw the ball to captain Nick Hatton, who charged toward the try line. Number 8 was tackled just short of the try line, after which substitute scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl dived and secured the victory. Lombard converted the ball from the try line, despite loud cheers from the spectators, increasing his team's advantage.

Besides Siyaya, strong performances were shown by starting number 9 Jaden Hendricks, Lombard, Van Heerden, Hatton, and winger Manu Tsituka. This victory concluded an ideal European tour for the Sharks, who achieved three wins out of three matches before the November break. Furthermore, it gave them significant momentum heading into the next block of URC matches, strengthening their position in the top four.

Goals and Scoring Moments

The score was recorded as follows: Munster 3 (3) — Penalty by J.J. Hanrahan; Sharks 15 (5) — Try by Gianni Lombard and Ivan van Zyl, conversion by Lombard; Penalty by Lombard.

Sharks veteran forward Stefan Lewis stated that the team is on a wave of confidence following a hard-fought victory over Lyon, and they are now preparing for the United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff this Friday.

Speaking to the press ahead of Friday's clash, Lewis shared his impressions of the young Sharks team's character during last week's game in France. The team secured a memorable win by scoring after the final whistle, despite being composed of young players.

Lewis noted: 'To travel to France, into a hostile environment, far from home, and achieve a victory is something special.' He added that sometimes young players do not realize what they have achieved, but for many of them, this will likely be the case. 'But what makes us happy is how we continued to fight despite the score, we led and trailed, and to play a full match in 80 or 82 minutes to score and win with such a young group, I think we can be proud of that and build on it in the future.'

The experienced defensive player emphasized that overcoming difficulties in intense games builds invaluable resilience within the squad: 'When it gets a little tougher, you can remember those victories when you were relentless and fought until the end... and you gain the confidence that you can do it again.'

Summarizing the upcoming game at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday evening, assistant coach Warren Whiteley confirmed that the returning Springboks players have fully integrated into the squad since their arrival on Sunday during the tour.

Addressing the tactical challenges posed by the Welsh team under former Cheetahs defender Cornéel van Zyl, Whiteley highlighted the set-piece battle as a key moment. Whiteley observed: 'This is a quality, strong team, and we know that Cornéel has extensive experience regarding the set-piece, especially in out-of-side play. He is a very insightful out-side coach and very smart. It will be a huge battle, and it will be one of the most important areas of the game.'

The team will also have to cope with Cardiff's 4G artificial turf, a characteristic Lewis admitted players rarely like. Lewis said with a smile: 'I prefer grass. I think there are small nuances regarding the ball bounce being slightly higher... so when there is contact, you need to be more vigilant about placing the ball on the turf, it stays there a bit longer. But ultimately, it is rugby between four lines. You cannot change that; both teams play on the same surface.'

With momentum, growing belief among the young squad, and backing from the national team, Sharks intend to maintain their fast, physical, and tireless style of play under the floodlights in the Welsh capital on Friday evening.