Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen was thrilled with not only his team’s Investec Champions Cup victory over Clermont at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, but the way they went about it and the gains made within the squad.
“The message was clear going into the game, we wanted to win, and the rest would take care of itself,” he said in his assessment of the match.
“It was a nervy start, 14-12 at half-time, but the starting team did their job of tiring out Clermont by playing a high tempo game, especially in the Durban heat.”
While a win was always the plan, such a big win was more about the team’s desire and willingness to play, and never give up.
“That comes from the tempo at which we played, as well as the accuracy. If you put teams under pressure and play a fast-paced game, it’s hard for the opposition to align on defence.
“I know that feeling, when you’re under the pump; so it’s a good result for us.”
With a young side, the future looks bright, and while Clermont were not at full-strength, nor was the Hollywoodbets Sharks side that put 50 points on the French Top 14 side.
“When you play in two competitions
“I need to give opportunities and I can’t say ‘he’s not good enough’ if I don’t play him, so we want players to put their hands up and build competition with the squad, healthy competition. It shows that no-one’s position is safe, it also drives standards.
“What I’m really happy about it the fact that sometimes we struggle to put teams away, and just win games, but in this game, we were really ruthless which is something we can take and work on.
“So the positive is when we’re up, we can put teams away.”
Having to wait on the results of later games to see if their destiny would take them to the Round of 16 – ultimately to be denied – has given Pietersen the blueprint of what is necessary to be successful in this competition.
“What I’ve learn is that you have to win away, that’s something we need to get better at,” Pietersen said in conclusion.
Finishing outside the top four – frustratingly on points differential – means the team will now contest the EPCR Challenge Cup where they take on Connacht in the Round of 16 on the first weekend in April.