The Hollywoodbets Sharks know only too well what this weekend’s Carling Currie Cup match against the Airlink Pumas offers them, and will be looking to deliver a repeat performance of last Saturday.
Head coach JP Pietersen has made just three changes to his starting XV which is always a positive. Of particular value, it means the team can continue to build without too much change in personnel.
“It’s good to have a bit of continuity this weekend, as a coach and a team you can always prep better when the same team has been together,” he explains. “It also helps that we didn’t have lots of injuries in the Lions game.”
Having earned an important win last week, Pietersen concedes that his team isn’t under major pressure to deliver, but a repeat performance, coupled with effort, would add to this young team’s belief and confidence.
“There isn’t really pressure on this group, they’re encouraged to express themselves and grow. We all agree we can do better in our performances as a collective and lots of work has been done this week to improve ahead of the Pumas’ game. We’re looking for balance in this young group and felt we got nice balance in the Lions’ game.
“The next step is getting consistency in the group, in a collective effort.”
The Pumas have battled with consistency, losing 75-10 to the Fidelity ADT Lions, but beating the Suzuki Griquas 44-24 and 66-26, and they too will look to play with the kind of power game, mixed with flair, to cash in at home.
“The Pumas have been together as a group for the last three years and they have massive belief. They’re a dangerous team, a pack that can dominate the set-piece and backs with speed on the outside. We’ve identified the Pumas’ strengths and respect them.
“We remember what they did to us in the first game, putting us under huge pressure.
“They scored a couple of maul tries, so they’re physical when they play direct rugby and we’re not taking them lightly at all. They’ve been working hard for the last couple of years, that’s why they played in the final – and beat is in the semi-final last year.”
Despite losing the first round match, Pietersen is adamant that there is no talk of revenge.
“As a group, we just want to be consistent. A couple of guys can improve their performances, we want them to go out and be aggressive. It’s a massive challenge going to Nelspruit, with the hope of being even better than we were against the Lions.”
One thing Pietersen admits he will also be looking for is a continuation of the way his team controlled the tempo of the game last week.
“The players did look calm, they showed belief, and when you’re calm, it means you know your detail, you’ve done your homework and can execute. This week is the same, we’ve focused on the detail, as a collective, when you understand that, you can put a lot of energy into it.
“From my side, hopefully come Saturday, the collective detail is on point and we can put the Pumas into a pressure cycle and then make the pressure moments count.”
