Good news, Sharks fans. JP Pietersen will be fit to take his place this weekend in the crunch match against the Crusaders in Durban. Sharksworld caught up with the competition’s top try-scorer for a quick chat.
“We drowned our sorrows on Monday,” JP says of the squad’s reaction to the disappointment of losing in Bloemfontein, “but we came back with a good session on Tuesday and we’re back on track.” The team is committed to not dwelling on the past, because that can’t be changed. “We’re hurting and want to put it right this weekend,” he says. “We’re still very positive that we can go all the way and win this competition.”
Positivity and self-belief are never in short supply when it comes to Pietersen, though, as he himself admits. Talking of his early rugby career, he says that “I didn’t come through the usual route – going to one of the big rugby schools or playing for the SA Schools team. But I always had a great amount of passion and a real will to wear the jersey and join my heroes in the provincial team. That is what got me here and what keeps me going.” His advice to aspiring players is very similar: “Just believe in yourself and don’t ever give up on your dream.”
Our discussion inevitably turns towards what was, by JP’s own standards, a disappointing 2008 campaign, particularly in the Super 14, where he failed to score a single try. Ever honest, he’s the first to admit that, “I didn’t prepare well for the 2008 season. I was tired after a very busy and emotional 2007 season – I had played a lot of rugby and it was difficult to come down to earth after the World Cup.” The lessons learned were carried forward, though and he was determined not to make the same mistakes in 2009; six tries in seven starts this year paints a picture of a player who has his hunger and focus back, in no short supply.
Looking forward to this weekend’s game, Pietersen feels the recipe for success is a simple one. “We’ve got to keep the ball and create opportunities in their 22,” he says. “If we don’t respect the ball and give them possession, we will lose.” He doesn’t buy the argument that the Sharks have a problem with creating tries themselves. “We have all the right players in the right positions, ” he says, “so many talented guys who can make things happen. We just need to concentrate on working together as a team – communicating a bit better – and the opportunities will come.”
Looking ahead, JP is completely focused on winning a Super 14 medal with the Sharks. Facing the British Lions is another goal this season and although he doesn’t want to look too far ahead, staying in South Africa with the Sharks, at least until after the 2011 World Cup is very much in JP’s thinking at this stage. The future looks bright indeed for the Sharks and Springboks with the big former lock in menacing form and hungry for tries. He assures me that his return to the second row for the last few minutes against the Blues earlier this year was indeed a one-off occurrence, though. “My past really caught up with me there,” he quips.
Catch up with JP’s latest news on his official website, www.jppietersen.co.za. We’d like to thank him for his time and wich him and the team all the best for the game on Saturday.
Tweet
Just don’t risk injury unless 100% fit…
Go you good thing.
With JPP back we certainly CAN beat these guys.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : agree, but I’d feel a lot more comfortable if we had Beast, Bissie and Wolla back too 🙂
Good Morning everyone
Others that will be back is
beast
bissy
murray
deysel
sykes ( although he played off the bench last week )
still to come back is ruan , next week with hargreaves that wont play again in the super 14
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
Yip. Getting those guys back would cause me to send the SB guys an email asking if I can change my prediction margin. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : as long as you aren’t going to ask to change the winner…
@sharks_lover (Comment 4) :
Are they all 100% fit?
Jeez I’ve even forgotten what Murray looks like 😆
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 7) : big, short hair, runs sideways… rings any bells? 🙂
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 7) : Crab like , runs sideways…a lot like Frans Steyn this weekend just with shorter hair 👿 😉
@robdylan (Comment 8) : 😆
yes they are all fit and ready to go
chances are is murray wont start but play off bench , but good chance deysel will start so here is the probable team
stefan
odwa
adi
swanie
jpp
steyn
kockott
ryan
deysel
botes
muller
sykes
jannie
smit
beast
reserves
bissy
albert
carstens
daniel
mcleod
murray
monty
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Nope, it be just be an increased margin 😆
Go Sharks.
Man! I feel good this am. First time in more than a month i have managed to have a lie in until 9am. 😎 All this getting up at 7am is sommer kak.
@sharks_lover (Comment 10) :
Where’d you get this info?
sory guys but steyn was one of the few players that came away with a little credibillity last weekend
why not mention adi and all his missed tackled where steyn had to cover for him
adi’s missed passes to who know whom they went
odwa missed tackles etc
lets not always give steyn the fault for the teams crap
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 7) :
Last played in the Noah XV vs Stormy Weathers XV i think.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 12) : good morning ksa
call it good investigating
witness has it yesterday for sure back will be beast , bissy , sykes
deysel and
supersport today has told us jpp and murray and deysel back
so putting 2 and 2 together is quite simple as bissy had a slight knock that he took in training so they decided to rest him and beast had flu, they are back
the long term injured players that are back are deysel and murray and jpp thus giving you 6 when including beast bissy and sykes
remember sykes played off the bench last week and is fit to play
as i said only ruan will be back next week according to reports
hargreaves we know it was said he will be out for the super 14
@sharks_lover (Comment 13) : Good to see that the blame are being shifted 🙄 🙄 🙄
@sharks_lover (Comment 15) :
Oh okay cool.
I just thought you may have had an inside informant. You made it sound like it had been confirmed to you by someone. 😉
@Charlie (Comment 16) : lol charlie true , and dont me wrong adi has been brilliant , just had a terrible game last week but he will kick ass this week watch
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : lol boet ill say no more
@sharks_lover (Comment 13) :
Well if you’re TT then it will be Stefan’s Fault, In some qurters it’ll be Adi’s Fault, In some quarters it will be Steyn’s fault, if you are bryce it will be Plumtree’s fault.
There are MANY varied opinions out there.
Oh and if you are the Bulls it is ALWAYS the refs fault. We all know it will never be a bull who plays(ed) badly. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : to me its plain and simple the team played badly
but if you go watch the game again you will see the stand out bad players
lol but i agreewith this , like the reds we underestimated the cheetahs
Very cool to get JP in for a chat. Good luck dude.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : or if u are me it will be rory’s fault (mainly to try to get bryce going on defence
its robs fault for giving us false hopes in his articles
😆
I have a chat with a certain hairy number 8 lined up this evening. Can’t say Sharksworld doesn’t deliver news straight from the horse’s mouth 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 24) : hairy no 8 – i guess not scholz
@rekinek (Comment 25) : 😀 😆
@rekinek (Comment 25) : quite astute of you.
No, not Scholtz 🙂 Think bad 80s TV show with a talking car.
@robdylan (Comment 27) : the oke with a siganture on his ass?? 😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 18) : 😈
@sharks_lover (Comment 28) : JAN !!! 😈 Oh the HOFF
@robdylan (Comment 27) : don’t think it was broadcasted in my country
perhaps you know – whether the hairy No 8 is aware of his very eastern european surname ❓
The gloom following the hiccup of last weekend and the injury bogey that has been lurking around The Sharks’ camp in recent times has passed as the sun edges its way through the clouds to provide a silver lining at the most opportune time with the team preparing for one of the toughest matches they will play all year, against the seven-time champion Crusaders.
Back in the reckoning are three class players in Waylon Murray, JP Pietersen and Jean Deysel who have had medium to long term injuries, as well as Steven Sykes, Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira who were laid low last week with an assortment of minor ailments but have rejoined the team to provide huge impetus going into this final clash ahead of the much-needed bye.
Jean Deysel will play off the bench and JP Pietersen and Waylon Murray have been bracketed in on the wing. Should Pietersen start, Murray will wear the number 22 jersey ahead of Luzuko Vulindlu.
The only other changes are in the tight five where Steven Sykes reclaims his starting jersey after a bout of flu and Bismarck du Plessis starts at hooker, affording Springbok captain John Smit a breather off the bench.
The Sharks
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Adrian Jacobs
12. Riaan Swanepoel
11. JP Pietersen/Waylon Murray
10. Francois Steyn
9. Rory Kockott
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Keegan Daniel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller (Capt)
4. Steven Sykes
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Deon Carstens
Replacements:
16. John Smit
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Albert van den Berg
19. Jean Deysel
20. Charl McLeod
21. Monty Dumond
22. Luzuko Vulindlu/Waylon Murray
@sharks_lover (Comment 28) : askies?
@sharks_lover (Comment 28) :
well the players i spoke of are back
not not all in starting as i thought but hey atleast we have a stronger bench now
@robdylan (Comment 33) : lol boet player 23 signed ur mystery mans ass 😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 36) : in front of milions of viewers
@sharks_lover (Comment 36) : I am still lost. We don’t get the player 23 stuff outside of ZA…
@robdylan (Comment 38) : It’s a Vodacom add with various springboks in it. robie wessel’s songs all that jazz – i think charlie posted words at some point and somebody else posted a link to you tube.
You must see (and hear) it ❗
@robdylan (Comment 38) : ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you should google it rob lol
its the new vodacom advert called player 23 with robbie wessels from the leeu loop advert thing
anyhows in the advert the supporter jan signs his name on the side of ryans ass
@sharks_lover (Comment 40) : gross!
OK, will tease him about that later
rob are the tickets that can be won still avaliable?
The Sharks will beat the Crusaders and they will make the final.
Rob, I wonder???
Can you remember the article we made our S14 predictions on pre-season?
Would be interesting.
I think you did one and we all commented with our own.
@rekinek (Comment 39) :
Jan, Jan, Jan, hy’s die soul vannie span,
22 manne in ‘n rugbyspan,
But the 23rd oke is a genuine stud,
He’s name is Jan, he’s elke teams dream,
Player 23, there’s a Jan for every team…
I LOVE IT, BUT NOT MORE THAN THE SHARKS !!! 😈
@Charlie (Comment 45) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOK1EZWaRek
@Morné (Comment 44) : lemme see if I can find it
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2009/01/27/the-official-sharksworld-super-14-prediction/
not too many of us called the Bulls to be in the reckoning. A few of the wiser ones picked the Chiefs to be right up there.
@Charlie (Comment 46) : oh no – that is truly awful!
@robdylan (Comment 50) : you mean add or kanko’s …
@robdylan (Comment 49) :
Hmmm yes – I was still on about Ludeke being a kak coach…
1. Crusaders
2. Waratahs
3. Sharks
4. Chiefs
Tell you what, I will stick with them for now.
Maybe just sub the bulls for the Saders but 3 out of 4 is not bad…
Long way to go still though
@Morné (Comment 52) : Where’s the Stormers ❓ 😯
@rekinek (Comment 51) : the whole thing is just so horrendously Saffa Lowest Common Denominator! Makes me cringe
@Morné (Comment 52) : how do you see Canberra unfolding this week?
@Charlie (Comment 53) : this is Morne… he’s not stupid 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Why did no one rate the Bulls? I have them in the semi’s
@robdylan (Comment 54) : hehe – i think that was Keohane’s sentiments as well.
I positively love it
@Rahul (Comment 56) : kak coach who failed miserably in Super 14 last year (and for two years before that with the Lions). Seems he’s learning.
@rekinek (Comment 57) : Sorry… I am still too busy cringing to see any artistic merits
@Charlie (Comment 45) : wessels was entertaining the crowd (or should I say mini crowd) on saturday and sung Jan with some extra bits. got some on camera – will see whether can post it somewhere.
@robdylan (Comment 55) :
@robdylan (Comment 55) :
Bulls will lose.
Bakkies and Matfield is a major loss, Brumby loosies way too good, and Steyn won’t be as effective in his kicking game (line outs without bakkies and matfield not so strong) because the Brumbies back three is dangerous – I heard however Gerard is out?
If so, pretty even game but Brumbies at home to take it.
From a more technical perspective the Bulls have a very flat defense.
The Brumbies are masters at the short kicks through and the Bulls covering or sweeping defense is not great.
The game will be won and lost in the breakdown, and there George Smith is just way too street wise for the Bulls youngsters.
@Morné (Comment 62) : and bulls rarely play on fridays
@Morné (Comment 62) : I would have backed the Brumbies with utmost conviction with Gerard there… not as happy without him, because now Morty is at wing. Still, I believe in them enough to put my last LMS life at stake.
Brumbies are my dark horse for a fourth-place finish.
1. Saders
2. Sharks
3. Bulls
4. Chiefs
That was my prediction in a little local comp in plett
@robdylan (Comment 65) :
Ja Gerard is a huge loss.
I am also on my last LMS, I think I am picking the Reds this weekend 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 65) : I think at the end of the pool stages it will be interesting to resurrect that article and compare with the actual log to see just how good (or bad) we all were.
@robdylan (Comment 58) :
More artistic merits than the Sharks displayed last weekend.
The ad is aimed at the broad spectrum rugby supporter, its aim is fun and Im sure not there for artistic accolades. I think it gets its message across brlliantly, which afterall, is what advertising is about.
Speaking of which has anyone heard the new Nandos radio ad. 😈
@dudette
(Comment 66) :
my prediction from 13 Feb
Sharks
Waratahs
Crusaders
Bulls
so will see how it plans out
@rekinek (Comment 70) :
😆 Dudette???????? Where did that come from? 😯 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 71) : he called me sth funny yesterday
i’m at loss why … and what was it as well
@rekinek (Comment 70) :
Sharks
Waratahs
Bulls
Chiefs
@rekinek (Comment 72) :
Okay let me explain
Rek = Stretch in English
Nek = neck
And he called you Stretch neck or something along those lines.
😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 74) : are you suggesting that’s not funny 😆
not exactly what I had in mind when picking a nick – in my language much simplier thing
@Salmonoid (Comment 69) : Caaaaaareful. 😉
on jpp’s site this question was asked: ‘would u prefer to run with the bulls or from them?’ He replies: ‘ha ha i would like to run through them’ 🙄 thats funny
@JarsonX (Comment 77) :
@klempie (Comment 76) :
Yes Boss.
@Salmonoid (Comment 79) : Just lookin’ out for ya. 😈
JP my lad, keep on doing what you are doing – you just need a S14 medal and British Lions scalp and you will have achieved the pinnacle by 23! 😯
@Big Fish (Comment 81) : and then what?
@Big Fish (Comment 81) : isnt steyn even younger?
@robdylan (Comment 82) :
World Hunger?
Sms me sometime you bugger – your number doesn’t work anymore; not the one I have anyway.
@JarsonX (Comment 83) :
He is – we sometimes seem to forget that.