Pietersen pretender no more
24 Jul 2012
RYAN VREDE says JP Pietersen has rediscovered his touch to become the Sharks’ most influential and dangerous backline player. Restricting his space and time will be one of the Stormers’ most pressing assignments.
In pre-season I wrote that a move to midfield had the potential to rejuvenate Pietersen, who in my view had become stale and uninspiring. And while he was certainly competent in midfield, he wasn’t dynamic, forcing me to reassess my position.
There were mitigating factors, of course, not least of all that the Sharks’ heavies were poor impostors of the platform-laying force they would later become. Pietersen’s potency on his return to the wing has its roots in the physicality and industry of his forwards. This was sorely lacking in his time in midfield.
That said, wing is undoubtedly the position he is best suited to. The defensive demands of outside centre in particular made him a vulnerability there. He is skilled at every discipline of wing play and the comfort and confidence that brings and stirs has been reflected in his play.
Pietersen strikes me as a players who needs a challenge to thrive. Some players do so in a comfort zone, where such a state is counter-productive for him and often reflected in poor conditioning. I’d venture a guess that coach John Plumtree, a man renowned for his astute man management, would have discussed and detailed his expectations with Pietersen. He would have been forthright in his view that Pietersen’s standards had dropped but would also committed to helping him regain the form that made him one of the best wingers in the world in his early career.
Pietersen too would have indulged in a concerted bout of introspection. The result is the pretender has given way to a wholly better version of himself.
Of his five tries, four have come in the last five matches. But his threat has transcended try-scoring. His experience has been key in the backline. His work rate has been deeply impressive, with forays to the opposite wing or guess-who appearances in midfield a throwback to a peak in 2007 and indicative of better conditioning. I stress a peak because Pietersen, at 26 years old, always had more to offer, albeit packaged differently from the care-free teen who emerged in 2006. It was always for him to determined whether he wanted to stew in his mediocrity or sizzle once more.
Now, burning white-hot, Pietersen represents a significant challenge to the Stormers. He has shown his capacity to score or craft scoring opportunities if given space and time to work. The Stormers have been consistently effective at cutting the source of their opponents’ outside backs’ service. However, the Sharks have been one of the few sides who have bossed them at the gainline this season, which has earned them the right to go wide.
How the Stormers fare in this regard will be decisive to the outcome. Pietersen will be determined to continue this journey of rediscovery and that is ominous for the Cape side.
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47 Comments
24 Jul 2012, 10:07 am
I would say JPP is one of the best wings in the world. Atleast he knows how to side step!!
Great defender as well!
24 Jul 2012, 10:08 am
Pietersen and Co versus Pop Gun Pete … schweet
24 Jul 2012, 10:13 am
JP playing awesome rugby….
great for the sharks and boks…
not so for the stormers…
but we have a plan…!!
24 Jul 2012, 10:43 am
JP has been sh.it hot!
I was surprised however that the RE:union guys from NZ picked 2 SA wings in their S15 team of the year.
JPP and Basson. JP probably deserves it but not sure about Basson above the likes of Savia and Gear.
24 Jul 2012, 10:44 am
@pokkel-4:
SA players in the RE:Union S15 team of the year was.
Etzebeth
Marcell Coetzee
Bismarck
JPP
Basson
Beast
24 Jul 2012, 10:45 am
JPP scary when he’s on song, but he does have a tendency to go to sleep some games.
24 Jul 2012, 10:49 am
Have to mosey on, so my last words will be in tribute to JPP, he has really stepped up and is in some great form…… the best outside back in Sa and the form winger coming into the semis……..deserves all the kudos…….fine player.
24 Jul 2012, 11:07 am
JP would be my first name on a team sheet for the Boks. Followed by Bissie, Beast, Frans Steyn and a fit Schalk Burger. Jean DV is captain I know… but these guys would still be my first guaranteed names.
On defense there is no better winger in World rugby than JP imo. He anticipates the oppositions attack so well every time and reads it perfectly. He smashed Anthony Faainga about 3-4 times last saturday as he received the ball. Or should I say Faainga received ball and JP.
His attack is not too shabby either
24 Jul 2012, 11:19 am
@ufo-3:Hi UFO, Do you have tickets for Saturday ?
24 Jul 2012, 12:03 pm
JPP has been one of my favourite players for years.
a game changer if there ever was one.
and i loved the way he patted his sharks badge after scoring his try, we love our sharks here in durbs.
24 Jul 2012, 12:05 pm
@CharlesM-9:
hey charles… yeah… am sorted thanks…
have you got…?
24 Jul 2012, 12:06 pm
@CharlesM-9:
apologies… just saw this post now…
24 Jul 2012, 12:09 pm
@pokkel-4:
basson is top try scorer this super rugby season ****** nuts!
24 Jul 2012, 12:18 pm
@ufo-11: I have 4 tickets but will be using 2: will sell other 2 @ Union prices. If you know of anyone interested in 2 Grand Stand tickets you can let me know. I have to go now but I can give you my fax no 086 513 8240. I don’t want to give cell and e mail address on keo.
Seats between 22m and 10m lines on Northern side of stand – great seats even if I have to say so myself.
2 Sharks’ supporters were going to buy them but have dropped me now
24 Jul 2012, 12:20 pm
@CharlesM-14:
cool charles some mates were looking… let me get hold of them and get back to you…
cheers…
24 Jul 2012, 12:56 pm
@pokkel-5: Have you got a link to the full team?
24 Jul 2012, 13:04 pm
“…. Plumtree, a man renowned for his astute man management….”
I thought Mitchell was suspected of that…….
24 Jul 2012, 13:06 pm
Pietersen is one of the best in creating something from overturned ball or counterattacking situations, but in tighter, one-on-one situations we have better players.
24 Jul 2012, 13:07 pm
@rangerman-10: 2E1…How ya doin?
24 Jul 2012, 13:07 pm
@rangerman-10:
I love artichokes,
but I don’t pat them
24 Jul 2012, 13:09 pm
Mouth watering clash against his opposite number who I think has the best man on man defence of all the wingers in SA, and if he gets going….
I wish both luck on Sat…
24 Jul 2012, 13:18 pm
i heard a sound bite on the radio this morning from Allister C, which they were calling a true Divvyism, regarding the Stormers inability to score tries, something about, ‘everybody has to ****, they just all do it differently’ or something, was this real!?? did anyone else hear it?
24 Jul 2012, 15:53 pm
@NicG-16:
I saw it on the TV show
what I can remember
15. Andre Taylor
14. JP
13. Conrad Smith
12. SBW
11. Basson
10 Carter
9. Perenara ( I think)
8. Read
7. Pocock
6. Coetzee
5. Romano ( I think)
4. Etzebeth
3. Franks( I can’t remember Owen or Ben I always get confused)
2. Bissie
1. Beast.
24 Jul 2012, 16:09 pm
@pokkel-23:
Basson? I you sure the presenter did not sneeze when he got to number 11 and went : “ba-sjoe!” and you confused it with Basson?
24 Jul 2012, 16:10 pm
@pokkel-23: 5. SAM WHITELOCK
fark sorry caps!
24 Jul 2012, 16:12 pm
@Robzim-24: no, TJ said, “even though savea, gear were good, basson was outstanding and the stats show it”…
24 Jul 2012, 16:29 pm
@Transformation-25:
Thanks, the rest right you think?
24 Jul 2012, 18:20 pm
i hope this means JP gets the nxt SA rugby cover
24 Jul 2012, 23:22 pm
Nothing beats a player enjoying his football, being injury free and confident in his abilities……..J.P its good to see.
25 Jul 2012, 01:24 am
@cane-20: you sound in need of some vegetarian love, so here:
What was said to the rose that made it open
was said to me here in my chest.
What was told the Cypress that made it strong
and straight, what was
whispered the jasmine so it is what it is, whatever made
sugarcane sweet, whatever
was said to the inhabitants of the town of Chigil in
Turkestan that makes them
so handsome, whatever lets the pomegranate flower blush
like a human face, that is
being said to me now. I blush. Whatever put eloquence in
language, that’s happening here.
The great warehouse doors open; I fill with gratitude,
chewing a piece of sugarcane,
in love with the one to whom every that belongs!
- Rumi
25 Jul 2012, 08:19 am
I remember predicting on this site about 5 years ago that JP has the potential to be a greater servant to SA rugby than Habs. He’s already achieved so much and is only 26. A classy wing, love watching him run, seems so effortless but just ghosts through gaps with ease. And don’t forget he started as a fullback so when the pace goes he can always reinvent himself similar to how mils muliaina did. nowadays i think opposing teams are more fearful of JP in space/broken play than Habs
25 Jul 2012, 08:27 am
@rangerman-10:
Aaaaw sweet
25 Jul 2012, 08:30 am
@Skeppie-19:
Who are you and why are you digging around for everyone’s names like Sheriff
25 Jul 2012, 08:37 am
@Dawn-33: lol, That is egzackerly what Sheriff does, doesn’t he?
Remember the time Sheriff asked everyone to “reveal” their age, race, occupation, place of residence, etc…? What is the guy after, bank account details next?…
25 Jul 2012, 08:39 am
JP is the Heat.
I would have thought there would be more spice here.
Given we are three days away from Armafuckingeddon.
Very disappointing.
25 Jul 2012, 09:06 am
@wooden spoon-34:
Dont know!
This scrounging around for people’s details irritates the feck out of me.
25 Jul 2012, 09:07 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-35:
I suppose after all the kuktalk yesterday, some people decided to do some work today.
25 Jul 2012, 09:07 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-35: Ok, so that actually means I have 3 shopping days left before Armageddon. I have been told by many that I will not be amongst those fortunate enough to play an active part in the rapture(as I don’t support the Bulls and find fundamentalists to be short on logic). What this means, is I will be one of the souls left behind with the cockroaches, so I need to shop.
Any suggestions as to what I might need in my Armafuckinggeddon survival kit? I already have 3 cans of whoopass,a Stormers jersey and my AC/DC cd collection on my iPad. What else should I buy?
25 Jul 2012, 09:08 am
JP is the heat?
25 Jul 2012, 09:10 am
@Dawn-33: Easy there tiger, I am not asking for anyone’s names, I just went to school with Rangerman so was interested in his identity….no-one else’s….don’t stress.
25 Jul 2012, 09:15 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-38: AC/DC…you sure? Go on….there’s a Backstreet Boys best of album somewhere in your collection isn’t there?
25 Jul 2012, 09:20 am
@Skeppie-41: The only Backstreet Boys I know are those glue sniffing fellows I see at traffic intersections from time to time.
25 Jul 2012, 09:22 am
@Skeppie-40:
All very well.
But keep it to yourself
The whole website dont have to know
25 Jul 2012, 09:22 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-42: Hurricane can seriousy bang out some old AC/DC tracks.
25 Jul 2012, 09:23 am
@Dawn-43: Aw come on Dawn, you mean you don’t take an acctive interest….I am really hurt.
25 Jul 2012, 09:25 am
This must be the the most self congratulating piece of horse drivel article ever written. I think you need to take your eyes out of your bum Ryan. JPP has was and always will be absolute class. The same as BH, its only ever been you and the rest of the KEO driven clowns who have ever thought otherwise. He has always had one of the highest work rates on the pitch and never shirkes added to that that Plum and co tried to screw him the same way the screwed RP, JS and FS in uncalled for positional changes and switches. Really JPP is just class and all the talk of him not scoring tries…………………………play behind a forward pack going forward consistently and actually getting the ball on attack more that three times a game = tries. This article has a lot more to do with the fact that after all the agenda driven calls for Aplon to start ahead of JPP has now been exposed for the **** it was and someone doesn’t like eating humble pie, choke on that apple sauce clown.
25 Jul 2012, 10:02 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-38:
go to cape union mart at canalla walk with dawn.
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