Sharks need to look no further for head coach

Over the last few years, the Sharks have quite regularly had to contend with the criticism that they haven’t lived up to expectations in terms of consistent team performances and big trophies won, especially when considering the quality of players on their books.

It’s also been a frustrating time when it comes to the coaching ranks, with the likes of Jake White, Gary Gold, Robert du Preez, Sean Everitt, Neil Powell and John Plumtree having all had stints at the helm in the recent past, but predominantly with limited success.

Earlier this season, it was confirmed that Plumtree would be taking a step back from his role as head coach, and former Springbok legend JP Pietersen stepped up as ‘interim coach’.

Any way you look at it, Pietersen is a young coach, but he seems to make up for that relative ‘inexperience’ with an incredibly relatable and pragmatic approach to coaching and man management.

In numerous speeches to the Sharks team since taking over, he has spoken passionately about restoring pride and culture into the way the Durban-base side has been doing things.

There has been an immediate improvement ever since Pietersen stepped into the top job, and all signs suggest he could be just the coach the Sharks have been looking for all this time.

Sharks set to reward Pietersen with a permanent appointment

It’s understood that the Sharks’ upper hierarchy have already seen enough, and are willing to make Pietersen’s interim appointment ‘permanent’.

After back-to-back wins over the Stormers, the Sharks are suddenly riding a real wave of momentum, and Pietersen has praised the execution of the team.

“If you look at the game of last week, the Stormers were number one and undefeated in the URC. I think there was a two percent chance of us winning. But we’ve implemented and executed our plan well,” he commented.

“And to achieve that, you need discipline. When something is clicking, it’s clicking. You can see it.

“I see the growth, and there is belief. The guys are putting their hands up. The main thing stays the main thing on the field for us.”

The Sharks are now ninth on the URC table, having well and truly revived their playoff hopes.

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