By Michael Vlismas
There is something happening at the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and it’s far bigger than the Top Eight goal they have for this Vodacom United Rugby Championship season.
With five rounds left before the playoffs and currently sitting in 11th position on the table, the immediate vision of points and performance would suggest the Sharks have a mountain to climb.
But behind the scenes, new head coach JP Pietersen is working on something of lasting significance in his squad. Sure, the reality of professional rugby is that winning matches and making playoffs will always be his most immediate measure of success. The saying is that winning takes care of everything. But winning isn’t everything.
Pietersen has his goals for this group of players. And when he eventually leaves this role in however many years, the players who have worked under him will be better for it. And that, more than results, may be the lasting impact that truly counts.
“I repeatedly tell the players that rugby doesn’t define you as a man, but it can build you as a man,” says Pietersen, who is as focused on building a unified culture in the Sharks as he is on the constant juggle of overlapping competitions and losing and gaining Springboks throughout the season. And to this end, he has already had some strong words for his players.
“The first thing I said to them in my first meeting as head coach was, ‘I know we’re in a hole now, but that’s not our biggest problem. Our standards are not acceptable in terms of what we say and what we do on the field. We’re lacking fight, and our performances don’t sum up each of you as individuals. Let’s at least show some fight and that you care for this jersey. It will be my job to keep you accountable to the standard of a Sharks jersey. There is no way around it. We are men, and we are born to fight for something good, to lead our families and our loved ones, and to inspire the next generation. Now let’s be that for ourselves and those around us.”
From those inspirational opening words, which took place in a team room in Toulouse, Pietersen went back to his hotel room, sat on the edge of his bed, took a deep breath, and asked himself some tough questions as well.
“In that meeting, I’ll never forget seeing how the players shifted their eyes to me. I could see them looking to me for answers and direction on where we’re going. It hit me quite hard. I went back to my room and thought hard about it. I knew I could trust my rugby knowledge, so I backed myself. I decided to have a full go at it, and if it doesn’t work out, then so be it. That was my mindset. That was my pep talk in my room.
“My wife said she backs me, and that was huge for me. If she backs me, then I know we’re good at home. That’s how rugby works. You’ve got a home too, and that must be solid. My wife said, ‘Go for it. I’ve got the kids, and I’ll sort the home out. You go for this. That stood out for me. That support is massive.”
And so whatever happens over these next few rounds to one of the most talked about teams in this competition when it comes to talent and potential, one thing is crystal clear. A player working with Pietersen will be better for it.
“I’ve been through a lot of coaches, cultures, and languages. The common things amongst all the coaches I’ve worked with is that you have to give belief in players and you must bring energy. Sometimes it’s tough to bring the energy and lead with that energy. But in rugby, we say you die by the sword you make. Don’t change and flip-flop. Be true to yourself and stick to your character. Be authentic. That’s also what I always loved about the Sharks growing up. They never gave up. That spirit when they played always impressed me.
“So yes, we believe Top Eight is still a goal. We’re not there yet, but we’re on the right pathway.”
For now, that pathway most obviously leads to points and a position on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship table.
But for this group of men, Pietersen clearly has an even greater pathway he wants them all to be on.
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