After the Hollywoodbets Sharks' 28-23 Investec Champions Cup victory over Saracens on Saturday, December 13, 2025, interim coach JP Pietersen hailed the team's character and fighting spirit in his first match in charge.
“That’s the game of rugby, it’s unpredictable. There were patches where we didn’t do well, but it showed the character in the team. You could see afterwards how much it meant to the players in the change room.”
He acknowledged that it “wasn't a perfect performance,” highlighting areas for improvement, such as winning aerial battles, lineouts, and transferring pressure better when scoring opportunities arose.
“It wasn’t a perfect performance. We lost some scrum penalties, aerial battles and lineouts when we needed to score. What we can work on is winning the aerial battle and transferring pressure better when we score.”
“When you don’t have the ball or field position, you’re going to defend a lot. If you look at the stats, our tackle count will be way higher. But a win like this gives you belief, hope and lifts the energy in the environment.”
Pietersen was full of praise for stand-in captain Andre Esterhuizen on his 100th cap, calling him a “natural leader” and an “all-round player” who set a great example for the team.
“I remember Andre’s debut. I was there when he came on the wing in New Zealand against the Hurricanes in 2014, and we played a lot of games together. He’s grown so much. He’s become a proper all-round player; they call him the hybrid now.
“I’m really proud of him. The way he leads, the way he talks, his decision-making on the field – I don’t need to step in much, which tells you he’s a natural leader.”
Pieterse was also full of praise for what the combination of Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker brings to the Sharks' game plan.
“They complement each other really well, defensively and on attack. It feels like we’ve got 10 forwards on the field. When the forwards don’t give us momentum, we can rely on Andre and Ethan to do something in the midfield and give us momentum.
“Ethan is a centre, the wing is just an option. From my side, I’m very comfortable with him there.”
The win, secured in challenging wet and windy conditions, was crucial in lifting the team's morale after a heavy defeat the previous week and gives them “belief, hope and lifts the energy” for future games.
He viewed the match as a “statement” game and a new beginning, which he hopes will be a catalyst for more consistent performances and help them compete for a home playoff spot in the tournament.
“Winning is always important, it gives you belief, something to build on, motivation and confidence going into the next game.
“We know the Bulls won’t be easy, they’re desperate as well, but what a challenge it’s going to be next week.”