Sharks expect front to back attack
6 Mar 2009
JP Pietersen says the Blues won’t be predictable, varying their play between forward surges and backline strikes.
The Blues were relatively conservative against the Stormers last week, adopting a largely forward-orientated approach and feeding off the hosts’ errors.
However, they did display the ability to play expansively when the match situation allowed, and this has the Sharks wary of their hosts.
“The Blues have a pretty complete team with a good pack and a great backline. They have some dangerous players like Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino and they have players like Ali Williams coming back from injury which will be a big boost for them,” Pietersen told keo.co.za.
“It should be a similar game to the one against the Chiefs but a little bit more physical and they will definitely come at us from the start.”
Speaking about their narrow victory over the Chiefs last week, Pietersen said while the result was satisfying they know the Blues will punish them if they produced a repeat performance.
“It was definitely a big result for us and it’s always good to win your first game on tour because it gives everyone the belief that you need to do well over here. Playing any team in New Zealand is not easy. We got some lucky calls and we defended really well so it was a big relief at the end,” he said.
“We know that we need to improve against the Blues. They had a very good result last week against the Stormers and they beat the Force in Perth so they’ve picked up some valuable points on the road so they should have a lot of confidence and it’s their first home game of the season.
“But if we take our opportunities when they are presented to us we won’t find ourselves in the sort of position we were against the Chiefs.”
From a personal perspective 2009 has seen a return to try-scoring form for Pietersen, who failed to score a single try in the 2008 tournament. This after he finished 2007 as the tournament’s leading try scorer.
“It’s an awesome feeling to have scored one try – just to break the ice. I’m very pleased with the three tries I’ve got so far especially considering the dry spell I had last year,” he said.
“I’ve definitely adopted a different mindset compared to last year. I think I’ve also matured a lot. Last year I was still in that World Cup frame of mind and thought everything was just going to happen for me and it was quite a shock to my system.
“Your confidence will take a knock when you’re not scoring and you’re getting dropped from the team. Doubts start to set in and you begin to question your ability so it certainly was a wake up call for me.”
By Ryan Vrede
434 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9] Show All
6 Mar 2009, 22:51 pm
BTW I am actualy enjoying a Kumala Shiraz at teh moment…seems to be the only SA that actually gets marketed out…they sponsor the Saturday Night Club classics on Heart 106.2 in London
6 Mar 2009, 22:53 pm
#396 gunther:
who says its anything about money, could even be ideology for all we know, how come you so insistent, you part or close to the family?
and clever boys like me we can’t help seeing the tabloid signs right here on keo.co.za
an all
6 Mar 2009, 22:53 pm
seem to be hitting top of page again…with uncanny regularity
6 Mar 2009, 22:55 pm
#398 Cuito Carnivale:
Oh Sh*t, I was hoping you could give me some hope. it is only Skoppy who is still calling the Stormers then. Maybe I must just not watch the flippin game tomorrow.
6 Mar 2009, 22:56 pm
Right, just made my picks.
Canes by 19
Blues by 4
Crusaders by 9
Bulls by 18
Anyone see it any differently?
The surprise of the round may very well be the hill billy Highlanders… I don’t remember them beating the Crusaders last year.
6 Mar 2009, 22:56 pm
time out
cheery bye
6 Mar 2009, 22:57 pm
#404 Robzim: I will only be watching Luke tomorrow…If he gets man of the match then that will be the biggest victory ever…for me at least
6 Mar 2009, 22:58 pm
#404 Robzim: skopskiet ALWAAAAAYS backs the underdog, and anyone against the Sharks. I wouldn’t trust him when it comes to predicting if I were you.
Always swimming against the flow…
6 Mar 2009, 22:58 pm
#402 yliad:
If uncle Johan Rupert beckons maybe all those devout principles might vanish into the thin patriotic air from whence they came in the end.
you did..
6 Mar 2009, 22:58 pm
#406 yliad: Cheers skoppie…you’re a legend mate!! Long Live
6 Mar 2009, 22:59 pm
#400 Robzim:
he is not the only one who is costing his team..
6 Mar 2009, 23:00 pm
#405 spooner:
I agree, except that it will be Bulls by 12 and not 18 imo. Stormers will start of like a bat out of hell but will fade towards the end unfortunately.
6 Mar 2009, 23:02 pm
#407 Cuito Carnivale:
Same here.
6 Mar 2009, 23:06 pm
#412 Robzim: It took a lot to pick the Blues but I have a funny feeling that it won’t be the Sharks’ day tomorrow.
Rob, I actually reckon 18 points may be a bit conservative. The last 4 results were:
16 Feb 2008 1 Bulls v Stormers 16-9 Cape Town
14 Apr 2007 11 Bulls v Stormers 49-12 Pretoria
13 May 2006 14 Bulls v Stormers 43-10 Cape Town
14 May 2005 12 Bulls v Stormers 75-14 Pretoria
6 Mar 2009, 23:06 pm
#408 spooner:
In my head I agree with your predictions – both the Stormers and the Sharks are probably going down tomorrow.
As far as picking for superbru is concerned I might however still pick the stormers against my own better knowledge. It is tough.
6 Mar 2009, 23:07 pm
#414 spooner: Luke will keep the score decent and maybe quite tight…
6 Mar 2009, 23:09 pm
#397 Cuito Carnivale: Not at all, pricing a problem and also quality v price
6 Mar 2009, 23:10 pm
My prediction…stormers will get a bonus point…win or lose
6 Mar 2009, 23:10 pm
#411 gunther:
No, he is nor alone, there are more. Rassie is also not helping by dropping Grant for de Waal etc. Hopefully he has some or other magic plan that I cannot see!
6 Mar 2009, 23:15 pm
#417 JL1: All wines that sell are £5 period…import price of SA wines are proberbly less than £2..no problem with quality…Very few wines that have been disappointed with..from any part of the world except californian Chardonnay…it kak and it still sells better than than the SA wines
6 Mar 2009, 23:27 pm
#419 Robzim:
I think rassie is fast running out of magic…. I am no huge fan of Peter Grant but de Waal …. surely not
6 Mar 2009, 23:32 pm
Go to go guys…. No party here tonight…
7 Mar 2009, 00:32 am
JP is an awesome winger. In 08 he was the man for the Boks. His defence and off-loads is so ferocious.. I am a fan particularly a Sharks fan..
7 Mar 2009, 01:40 am
#420 Cuito Carnivale: Ford Mondeo. Saturday Night Club classics on Heart 106.2 in London. Import price of SA wines are proberbly less than £2.
You reveal more of yourself each and every day.
7 Mar 2009, 02:52 am
Ubu, RobMugabe, ‘Arse-handed to him in Cuito’… just need Saffa Guy and Hater here… and you have the entire ‘blinkered mob’ brigade…
7 Mar 2009, 02:55 am
#425 money_man: hehehe
7 Mar 2009, 03:00 am
#420 Cuito Carnivale:
Other than a handful of boutique wineries… RSA wines have to be some of the most green excuses under the $20 mark… and don’t even get me started on that ‘burnt rubber’ varietal namely Pinotage…
No better multi-climated multi-varietal quality wines than in Australia… from Victoria’s cold climate Heathcote Shiraz, Yarra Valley Chards, to South Aus’ Watervale Rieslings, to beefy Barossa Reds, cutting edge Margaret River, Tasmania’s new breed of Sparklings, to Hunter Valley’s Semillons and Cabernets… and and and and and…
7 Mar 2009, 03:02 am
#426 Ed_the_Lion:
Hope to see your boys well-rested and ready for some NZAR culling mate…
7 Mar 2009, 03:04 am
#428 money_man: I don’t know what to hope for with me team anymore. Hows things going?
7 Mar 2009, 03:13 am
#429 Ed_the_Lion:
Great thanks and you… logging off… off to the butcher’s en-route to a Sharks/Blues barbie…
Happy to see your mob push the Dow ever so slightly into the green…
Have a great night…
Cheers…
7 Mar 2009, 04:21 am
i nearly shouted VRYSTAAAAT but then the hooter went and they let in a soft try and concede 7 poits right on halftime.
Saders 17 Cheetahs 5
7 Mar 2009, 04:25 am
#425 money_man:
The one security guard at our local bank also calls himself “money man”.
7 Mar 2009, 07:16 am
#432 Robzim:
J Arthur Brown also liked to refer to hisels the money man apparently….maybe this one is nailing Athur’s wife in Oz…
7 Mar 2009, 07:18 am
#433 gunther:
himself as…..whatever
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.