Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach JP Pietersen had mixed feelings around his team’s Investec Champions Cup loss to Sale in Manchester on Saturday, lamenting the mountain his team had to climb in the second half, but praising the team’s fight to the end.
“We had a good week, so I’m obviously disappointed about not getting the result, but also proud of the boys for fighting for the full 80 minutes,” he said after the game.
Having left a number of Springboks back in Durban, the young side gave a good account of themselves, particularly limiting their Sharks counterparts to a solitary score in the first half, and going into the break only four points adrift, to give themselves every opportunity of scoring what would have been an upset victory.
“This is a young group, but there’s a good mix of youth and experience. We gave ourselves the opportunity to win the game and to be playing away from home and to be 7-3 down at half-time, just showed the fight in the group,” he added.
But he did lament a loss of focus, which allowed Sale to pull ahead and build up what would ultimately be an unassailable lead.
“A lack of concentration in the second half cost us,” he explained.
“During the 15 minutes after half-time, they scored two quick tries, which gave us something of a mountain to climb.
“We fought back to 19-10, and there was hope and belief in the group; you could see that, but when they scored again, that put the game out of our reach.
“Looking at the game, we want to see them fighting from minute one to the final whistle, and they showed that for 80 minutes.
“They played some good rugby, the boys are making the jersey proud, and I’m excited for what the group can give and can do still.
“There are a lot of positives we can take from this game into the one this weekend, playing Clermont at home at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.”
