A longer pre-season, two wins from two warm-ups and a first ever home opener in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship — JP Pietersen on nerves, new combinations and what the Ospreys will bring.
With a longer than usual pre-season block, a 100% success rate in their two hit-outs and starting the tournament at home, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will look to hit the ground running in this afternoon’s opening Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against the Ospreys at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
“We had a better pre-season thank last year, we’ve been able to build cohesion and different combinations and we’re excited for this match,” head coach JP Pietersen said in the lead-up to the game.
“We’re also excited about playing the first game at home ever in the VURC and the boys are very excited to get stuck in. The message is that it’s all about controlling the nerves and staying present on the field.
“It’s only human to feel nervous before a game, but prep has gone really well, we’ve spent a lot of time on combinations and cohesion and the boys have had enough time to run together.”
The team selection shows many familiar faces, a few debutants and an exciting mix throughout, something Pietersen feels can deliver the goods.
“We have a mix of experience and youth, if you look at the backline it’s quite young, but lots of talent, energy and speed, someone like Vusi Moyo has been with the group all pre-season and has shown promising signs, and in the midfield with Murray Koster and Jurenzo Julius, we feel they’re up for the challenge.
“And upfront we have lots of experience with the likes of Vincent Koch, Manu Tshituka and Nick Hatton. And then a good bench that can come on later with some good experience to deliver what the game demands of them.”
With the Ospreys playing the 10Bet Lions in week two, they came to South Africa a week early to prep for the two matches on local soil, opting to base themselves in Joburg to train at altitude.
“We know they will come here as a well-prepared team, the Welsh are real students of the game and they’re always very good at the fundamentals, and we as a team have prepared similarly, to be able to nail the fundamentals to be able to execute under pressure.”
The Ospreys have bolstered their squad, having signed Super Rugby players to bring that Southern Hemisphere flair into their game and Pietersen looks forward to seeing their influence.
“It will be interesting to see what they bring, in Super Rugby they love to move the ball and retain possession for long periods of time to try break down defences, so we’ll see if that’s going to be the same in this match.
“They also have a good mobile loose trio that can move the ball, so it will be interesting to see what impact the new recruits will have on Ospreys.”
With this being the first game of the season, there are always going to be nerves and combinations that need time to gel and with that in mind, Pietersen does not have lofty ideals about his team delivering the perfect performance from day one, that’s the simple reality.
“We just want to win, even if it’s winning ugly, if we get four points we’ll be happy with that, and if we get a bonus point, well that’s a bonus.
“But it’s the first game, Ospreys probably have the same mindset to win, and so for the first 10 minutes or so, both sides will look to figure the other out and I think the team that adapts best to the conditions and plays to game awareness will be the one that comes out successful.”
Today’s match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park kicks off at 4pm.
