JP’s failure to launch

JP’s failure to launch

1 Apr 2008

A year ago JP Pietersen couldn’t stop scoring. Six matches into the tournament and he’s failed to get off the mark.

Scoring opportunities, admittedly, have been scarce for the winger. The Sharks, despite being placed second, have scored just 13 tries (the fourth lowest in the tournament). They didn’t look like turning it around against the rubble Reds in Durban on Saturday, despite conditions being good for an expansive approach. In fact, this campaign they have looked devoid of the attacking edge that had them billed as the one of the 2007 tournament’s great entertainers.

This must concern coach Dick Muir, who needs his side to find their attacking groove if they hope to return from their five-match Australasian tour with a home semi-final virtually wrapped up. What’s more, he needs the 2007 Pietersen to show up and punt the try thin 2008 version to the stand.

While Pietersen can be mitigated by the fact that he is receiving poor service from those inside him, the trademark quality of the world’s best wingers is their ability to work around the back – looking for scoring opportunities.

Bulls winger and IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana is renowned for his work rate, and of the current crop of wingers the Stormers’ Tonderai Chavhanga (joint second highest try scorer) has shown a liking for appearing in the 10-12 channel, or on the opposite wing.

Pietersen needs to rekindle the hunger for try scoring he had last year, while those crafting the opportunities on his inside need to jack up their performances. The Hurricanes in Wellington is not the easiest place to go if you are struggling for form, but Pietersen and his team can take solace in the fact that they have leaked the most tries of the top four (16).

At this stage last season Pietersen was playing his part in the 59-16 demolition of the Reds in Brisbane – bagging a brace and tormenting defenders with his omnipresent nature. The wheel has turned quickly for Pietersen, who on Saturday cut a dejected figure as he watched the game pass him by.

On current form he has fallen back in the Springbok pecking order, with Chavhanga the standout winger, even ahead of Habana who was impressive against the Blues but needs more game time and more regular ball in hand opportunities to kick start his season.

Watching Pietersen plod through the first six matches of the tournament has been painful and the Sharks have to take collective responsibility for their ballistic missile failing to fire at present.

They’ve promised that they’ll bust through their try drought. JP Pietersen needs that to happen very soon.

By Ryan Vrede

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327 Comments

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  • 301.superBul: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:42 am

    Morning all,
    AB funny how we get used to it, i remember how balistic we all got a few years back , even when lightning struck and the power went down. The call centres was hamered and everyone was reporting the problem. I rarely hear that now, well OK maybe no one can complain because nearly all the telephone lines are stolen.:lol:

  • 302.Koos: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:43 am

    Padda in die pot water superB…

  • 303.AB - Join RUGBY SUPPORTERS VOICE: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:44 am

    Koos
    Ek het geluister en gou water gekook en in die fles gesit vir koffie as die kids eendag opstaan!

  • 304.AB - Join RUGBY SUPPORTERS VOICE: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:45 am

    Super
    Ja ons raak mak!

  • 305.superBul: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:49 am

    Sien julle het vanmore bietjie oor oom Bob gepraat. 25 jaar terug nee 30 jaar terug saam n swartman begin werk en hy het destyds vir my gese Mugabe het nie kinders nie nou vrot hulle in sy kop. Hierdie soort stelling het ek verskeie kere weer gehoor by ander , hulle glo werklik as n man nie kinders het nie raak jou kop vrot want daai saad bly daar. Wel ek moet se my wit baas wat die kakste ooit was het ook geen kinders gehad nie.

    Maak mens wonder..

  • 306.Koos: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:50 am

    hehe AB, sal seker nie weer vandag af gaan nie…is mos maar hoe dit werk!

  • 307.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:51 am

    superBul
    Ook maar goed Bob het nie kinders nie, anders het een van sy gebroedsel dalk die mantel opgeneem.
    Sien julle manne later, moet my gat in rat kry hierdie kant en die job aan die gang hou….totdat ek Zim toe kan trek!
    Cheers.

  • 308.AB - Join RUGBY SUPPORTERS VOICE: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:53 am

    Super
    Jy laat my nou dink. Baie interesante stelling, ek ken ook n paar ouens wat later in die lewe hul koppies verloor en hulle het ook nie kinders nie!

  • 309.sondebok: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 06:57 am

    305. Morning Pietman, I`m sure Bob`s got at least 1 daughter.

  • 310.twakky-wp: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:12 am

    ok this thing of if he is a world cup winner and has a medal for it approach of some of you guys is really thicking me off yes he was in the team that won the world cup yes we drank ourself sick for 2 months but it’s over if the guy is out of form he is out of form finish en klaar………..

  • 311.superBul: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:13 am

    Going to salt mines,
    Enjoy your day
    Everyone

  • 312.twakky-wp: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:17 am

    ek gaan vandag al vrou moet begin soek en die doel van die lewe na kom voortplant asof daar ni n more gaan wees ni.. ek wil ni mal gaan ni…….

    enige van julle ouens mooi dogters van di age 18-25 wat n goed op gevoede STORMERS supporter soek??

    i won’t go down in history but i will go down on your doghter…………lol……

  • 313.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:30 am

    twakky
    Jy mag dalk n Stormer wees, weet nie van die opgevoed nie.
    Jy klink maar half rou vir my.
    As jy so van my dogter sou praat het ek jou ballas uitgehaal met n stomp okapi…

  • 314.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:38 am

    More Pietman en al die manne, wat gaan hier op keo aan vandag???

  • 315.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:44 am

    Hello Cuzzy
    Meesal Zim stories ou maat.
    Ouens is werk toe eers, ek waai ook nou.
    Praat later van die kantoor af.

  • 316.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:47 am

    Praat later ou Pietman!!!!!

  • 317.emiel: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 07:48 am

    No problem with Petersons all-round game. Sharks have a problem at 10 and 12. Steyn and Barrit are too similar to form an effective combo. And Steyn should rather specialize as an outside back ( 13 or 15) where he’s size, strength and elusiveness can best be utilized.

  • 318.SpringbOink12: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 08:16 am

    Give him some Viagra

  • 319.Biggles: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 08:23 am

    9 Pienaar(to start)
    10 Michalak
    14 Ndungane
    12 Barrit
    13 Murray
    11 Pietersen
    15 Steyn

    Kockott, Tereblanche, Adi Jacobs off the bench.

  • 320.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 08:39 am

    I have no problem with Peterson. He is at this point the least of their problems

  • 321.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 08:39 am

    Biggles I would rather have kokkerot start the game. The guy is showing Pienaar the way this season

  • 322.Croc: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 08:46 am

    Post 211 by Ansie is a classic – “women raping NRL players”. Some hardcore women down in Oz land, or perhaps he meant “women-raping NRL players”

  • 323.marlinspike: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 09:13 am

    Is this perhaps a case of the Bok world champs resting on their laurels? Pietersen, Habana, Bakkies, Ruan (started losing form during the world cup)…all not looking the part in the S14. They had better “wake up”, you’re only as good as your last game!!! A bit of bench warming might be in order.

  • 324.Biggles: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 09:20 am

    Kwagga, yip definitely an option.
    I just think, at the moment hes coming on with 20 mins to go with fresh legs when everyone else is tired therefore making him look quicker and more nimble.
    Pienaars touch and box kicking game is also much better for the more defensive approach at the start of the game.
    Wouldnt like to be the one making the decion on who plays though.

  • 325.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 09:41 am

    What nonsense!Steyn should now play 13,first he was SA’s answer to Honiball,then air apparent to the 12 role…whats next lock?? He hasnt been good at all this season,isnt letting the ball go to his outside backs,take to long to kick at 10,stingy at 12,careless at 15.

    Ruan is badly out of form cant fit in anywhere at the moment,Kockott breathing down his neck-he hasnt responded with aplomb.He is in danger of dissapearing into the wilderness..if he’s not carefull.

    Jacobs is deserved of a start,Barritt not as effective this season.JP’s all round play has improved tenfold-not as mistake prone but needs to score more.

    Ndungane has been superb for the last yr and a half or so.Definitely growing in stature-a clear xample of what “development” can do for a player.Classy touches on attack,versatile too.

    My Sharks back division:

    9.Kockott
    10.Michalak
    11.JP
    12.Jacobs
    13.Murray
    14.Ndungane
    15.Steyn

  • 326.Steel Shark: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 10:02 am

    mshiwiwani’s backline is pretty spot on, plus Kockott is a handy goal kicker too, Steyn has the range but can be erratic. I would probably have Barrit in place of Adi though, Adi is a great supersub coming on in the last 20 running at tired legs.

  • 327.Charlie: Reply to this comment
    2 Apr 2008, 12:15 pm

    mshiniwami,

    Quite a lethal backline…Had been asking for the same one the last 3 weeks…Freddie & Adi in the 10 & 12 axis would be awesome, but **** Muir prefer Adi as a super sub… The other option would be to start Barritt and bring on Jacobs for the last 30 minutes… ;)

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