Sharks coach JP Pietersen says a short turnaround is behind minimal changes for Friday night’s Vodacom URC clash with Edinburgh. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports.
Pietersen made just two tweaks – both injury-enforced – to the starting side that did duty against the Ospreys last week.
Veteran wing Makazole Mapimpi replaces the injured Ethan Hooker, while captain André Esterhuizen shifts to outside centre alongside Siya Masuku in a new midfield partnership after Le Roux Malan was ruled out.
“It’s a short week,” Pietersen said. “We don’t want to do any reshuffling or move players around too much. We want to keep the same combinations, which is why we stuck with what we finished with [against the Ospreys].”
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The 11th-placed Sharks are clinging to the slimmest of playoff hopes and Pietersen said his side will be going all out to deliver a strong performance, with a strong focus on being more clinical.
“If you look at the stats – territory and possession – we actually dominated the game,” he said of the 21-17 loss to the Ospreys.
“We created 10-plus opportunities in their 22 and converted three. That’s not good enough. You would rather want five opportunities and score five tries.
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“We were disappointed after the game and made peace with the fact that we didn’t make the top eight. Then you find out later that, technically, there’s a 10% or 15% chance you can still make the top eight.
“There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully we can grab this light and this opportunity come tomorrow.”
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Pietersen expects a tough challenge from Edinburgh, coached by former Sharks boss Sean Everitt, whom he played under at the Sharks.
“It’s always a tough game against Edinburgh,” he said. “They’ve got a strong kicking game, a physical pack and a good maul so when they get into the 22 they can convert into points.
“They have good set-piece phase attack where they can hold the ball for long phases and we have to prep ourselves to defend for long periods in the game.
“As a defensive unit and a group, we know they’re going to try and move us around and maybe put the ball in behind to turn us. That will be one of the key factors.”
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Pietersen hopes his team will make it a memorable occasion for Siya Kolisi, who earn his 50th cap for the Sharks.
“Siya is a special human and we want to make it special for him tomorrow,” he said. “That’s a small thing we can do tomorrow as a group, so we’ll fight for him.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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