When Siya Kolisi rejoins the DHL Stormers at the end of this season, it will be a sad day for Hollywoodbets Sharks.
But, for now, the Springboks skipper still has a huge amount to contribute to the team as a born leader, according to Sharks coach JP Pietersen.
Flanker Kolisi made a big impact off the bench in Cape Town last weekend to help secure a 30-19 Vodacom URC victory over his future team and he’s likely to have an important role to play again in Saturday’s Durban rematch with the Stormers.
“I think he was huge for us when he came on in the second half, with his leadership and his actions and what he did around the field,” said Pietersen.
“You could see the way he was talking. He was massive for us in that time he was on. He gives belief and what he is saying makes people better around him.
“It’s going to be sad for us seeing him go to the Stormers, but he’s still got a job to do for us until the end of the season. I am just happy with what he can contribute to us in terms of his leadership. You can’t coach leadership and he was born with it.”
Pietersen was also full of praise for full-back Aphelele Fassi who was named Player of the Match as the Sharks consigned the Stormers to their first league defeat of the season.
“He was good. He’s got that X-factor that any team wants,” he said.
“There’s his attacking ability, but also his technical ability. He’s got a kicking game and he’s good on the high ball, knowing when to transfer.”
There were compliments too for centre Andre Esterhuizen who Pietersen has installed as skipper since taking over as head coach in December.
“I think André is leading well,” said the former Springboks winger.
“He challenges the group and when he plays well, the team plays well. I just love the way he carries the team.
“He is a Sharks boy. He knows Durban in and out and lives and breathes Durban.”
Reflecting on the bonus point win over the Stormers, Pietersen said: “It was a South African derby and it was physical and hard and we love it.
“The plan we had was good and we executed it. Sometimes we didn’t and that’s part of the game, but when it went wrong, I liked what the boys did. They showed some fight and scrambled to get the ball back.
“The key was our fast start and we put them under pressure from the start of both halves.
“We took our opportunities more than they did. They made some unforced errors when they got into our 22.
“I think they will be kicking themselves because they created opportunities, but couldn’t finish.
“When you create pressure, you have to turn that into points and I think that was the difference between the teams. One side converted and the other didn’t.
“Those are the margins of the game. I think John Dobson will be a bit frustrated.”
Pietersen is now expecting a response from Dobson’s Stormers when the sides meet again on Saturday.
“They will definitely come back harder this weekend,” he said.
“We know they are going to come up to Durban wanting to prove a point.
“The challenge in rugby is always ‘Can you double up?’ and that is the thing.
“We will have a full go again. It is the same team we are playing, so we don’t have to completely change the plan, but we can tweak here and there.”
Low Voltage
Sport Trivia: In 2005, this South African made a record eleventh win at the Molokai World Surf Ski Championships, ten of which were consecutive wins. He has also won the South Africa Iron Man competition four times. Answer: Oscar Chalupsky – has also represented South Africa in the 1992 Olympics as captain and participant in the canoe team. He holds various South African and international titles.
Congo Wire
Sport Trivia: Apart from a team event bronze medal in 1992, Ghana won three other individual Olympic medals in the 20th century. These were all in the same event. Which event was this? Answer: Boxing. Ghanaian boxers won silver in Rome in 1960, bronze in Tokyo in 1964, and Munich in 1972.