Pietersen’s pride at leading the team that gave him everything
It’s the team that gave JP Pietersen everything and shaped him for the better as a person.
Now he is looking to give back to the Hollywoodbets Sharks as head coach.
Pietersen made 197 appearances for the Durban-based side over two spells and it was the launchpad for him winning 70 caps for the Springboks, sharing in the 2007 World Cup triumph.
Now the former winger is at the coaching helm at King’s Park and doing a fine job.
The Sharks have won four of their five games so far this season, claiming bonus point victories over the Ospreys, Leinster Rugby and Cardiff Rugby in the URC, while opening their European Challenge Cup campaign with a triumph away to French club Lyon.
Next up, they head to Limerick for a league clash with Munster Rugby at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.
It clearly means a great deal to Pietersen to be in charge of a team whose colours he wore with such distinction for well over a decade.
It’s a love affair that goes back a long way.
“I remember meeting Andre Joubert and Henry Honiball when I was eight or nine years old,” he says.
“I was star struck. Just to be close to them was unreal. That was when I first fell in love with the Sharks.
“Growing up, I was always a Shark from day one. I just loved the way they played.
“Like any kid, I chased a dream of being a professional rugby player. I always dreamed of playing for the Sharks one day, so to play for them was a dream come true.
“My first year here was 2005 after school. Just to be in the stadium and watch the players walking past, I was star struck again. I felt like ‘I’m here now’.”
It was in June 2005 that Pieterson made his debut for the Sharks at home to the Boland Cavaliers in the Currie Cup.
“I came in through the gate and people probably thought I was just a ball boy,” he recalls.
“I went into the changing room and I couldn’t talk.
“But then I came alive and scored two tries. That was really special.”
He went on to win his first cap for South Africa against New Zealand just a year later and was to have a glittering playing career which took in stints with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan, Leicester and Toulon in between two spells at his beloved Sharks.
On the international front, he appeared in three World Cups and scored 24 tries for his country in all, while also being renowned for his outstanding defence.
He has no doubts over who he has to thank above all for everything he achieved.
“It’s beautiful how the game of rugby shapes you and I will be forever grateful for the way the Sharks shaped me into the better person I am today,” says the 40-year-old.
“To sum the Sharks up, it’s the brand and the organisation that gave me everything.
“It gave me the opportunity to travel the world and meet friends overseas.
“It built resilience and it shaped my life for the good.
“I made a hell of a lot of memories on the field and it’s time for us to make some new memories and I know we are going to make good memories.”
After hanging up his boots at the age of 34 in 2021, he moved straight into a coaching role with the Sharks.
“For me, it just happened naturally. It was something small I could give back,” he says.
“That’s what I thought when I started coaching, to give back.”
Pietersen was initially involved in the Sharks’ youth structure and then became the head coach of the Currie Cup team, guiding them to the domestic trophy in 2024, beating the Lions in the final at Ellis Park.
Then in December of last year he was appointed interim head coach of the Sharks following the departure of John Plumtree and in February he was confirmed permanently in the role.
“It was quite an easy one to say yes to leading. It’s something small I can give back. It’s close to my heart,” he says.
Since taking over he has overseen a definite upturn in the team’s fortunes, something which has been particularly evident at the start of this season.
Reflecting on how he has approached the job, he says: “I wanted to bring back the fight and the pride for the jersey but not by talking, by doing.
“I want the 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 be in a game or win the game.
“I try to give the guys as much attention and detail as I can but also be firm.
“As a coach, you always get measured by how many trophies you win and how many games you win.
“But for me, it’s to see a group of Sharks men play their hearts out, play with pride, fight for the jersey, defend the jersey with everything they’ve got and play like it’s their last game.
“Obviously, the cherry on top is to win as many trophies as possible.”
The fight Pietersen talks about was evident in last Friday’s victory over Cardiff at the Arms Park.
His team were trailing 21-17 at the hour mark, but they rattled up three tries in the final quarter to win 36-21 and secure maximum points.
“It just shows the character and the belief in the group,” he said.
“When we were under the pump, playing against the wind, the old Sharks could have easily lost 50-17.
“But we stuck in there despite the injuries we picked up during the game.
“The beautiful thing about this team, the Sharks warriors, is they found a way to get on with it and pull closer together.
“You must give massive credit to the group, to the players, for sticking in the fight and finishing the game off like that.”
He added: “We were happy with the result and over the moon to get five points in Cardiff.
“But we’re also keeping our feet on the ground, as we know we’ve got a massive game against Munster in Limerick.”
The Stellenbosch-born Pietersen is clearly a man on a mission with the Sharks as he looks to impart his sporting philosophy.
“I always say nothing is impossible,” he declares.
“I wasn’t the most talented guy but I do believe with the passion you have and if your dream is big enough you can achieve anything.
“Dream, work hard, be disciplined, have courage and put yourself out there. We are so worried about what can go wrong, sometimes we forget what is out there for us.”
SATURDAY
Munster Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA/7.30pm SA
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 9th league game)
AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2: Kevin Beakey (IRFU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
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