SHARKS BACK JP PIETERSEN BUT TACTICS STILL UNDER FIRE
JP Pietersen is now firmly in charge of the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and opinions are flying as the former Springbok great takes the helm amid a tough season.
He stepped up as interim head coach in December after John Plumtree stepped aside, and he’s since had mixed results, but plenty of supporters in and around Durban are backing his long‑term prospects.
Pietersen inherited a team that was struggling badly under Plumtree, with only one win in the early United Rugby Championship (URC) season. Since the switch, the Sharks have already celebrated a morale‑boosting Champions Cup win over Saracens and a URC victory against the Bulls with results that have lifted spirits among fans and pundits alike.
Former Springbok Adrian Jacobs says Pietersen has earned the right to keep his job, pointing to the improvements in effort and results since he took over. He praised the fact Pietersen didn’t overhaul everything straight away, choosing instead to stabilise the team and get performances that would make Sharks supporters proud.
Pietersen’s mantra seems to be steady growth. He’s trying to build cohesion in a side stacked with talent, including a healthy Springbok contingent, and tighten up defence while looking for sharper attacking patterns.
With a physical Lions test looming, he’s been clear: wins bring confidence, but consistency is the real goal.
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