New coach JP Pietersen wants Sharks to show fight against Saracens at The Tank

Debut matches as head coach don’t come too much tougher than playing a Saracens team packed with England internationals, but JP Pietersen was cool and calm when he faced his first press conference in the hot seat.

On Saturday evening, the Sharks host the Londoners in a second-round Champions Cup match (5.15pm), and Pietersen said the mindset of the players this week has given him confidence.

After losing six of their first seven games of the year, including a first-round Champions Cup hiding in Toulouse last week, this match is the first where the Sharks will have the bulk of their Springboks available, although they are without two key men in suspended Eben Etzebeth and injured Ox Nche.

“When I was asked to help the Sharks out, it was easy to say yes,” Pietersen said. “This organisation has done so much for me. I’m excited, and I believe we can turn things around. The players had some honest conversations this week, with Andre (Esterhuizen, the new captain) leading the way.

“It has been a good week with high energy levels because the players understand that it is up to them to fix the situation.

“We want to show our fight. We’ve been lacking a good performance. Hopefully, we can deliver an 80-minute one that makes our fans proud.”

One of the key Springboks back in the fold is Esterhuizen, who has just enjoyed the best segment of his Springbok career — the blockbusting centre had a storming November tour in which he enhanced his reputation with his ability to switch between centre and flank seamlessly.

The Klerksdorp-raised Esterhuizen plays his 100th match for the Sharks on Saturday and is in his second stint at the Shark Tank after four years at Harlequins, the London neighbours of Saracens.

Pietersen has former Sharks captains in the team, including Siya Kolisi and Vincent Tshituka, but he said it was an “easy” decision to give the armband to Andre.

“For me, Andre was an easy choice. It seemed natural to me. He’s an old Sharks man who knows this place inside out. The way he plays, he asks a lot from the players, and they want to go with him.

"Siya has a lot of responsibilities with the Springboks, and this was simply the right role for Andre,” said Pietersen, adding that Esterhuizen will be captain for the rest of the Champions Cup campaign.

Next to Esterhuizen in the backline will be the veteran flyhalf, George Whitehead, who, a few months back, famously kicked a last-minute penalty to win Griquas the Currie Cup.

Pietersen will use Springbok Jordan Hendrikse off the bench as cover for Whitehead.

“It was a disruptive week with the travel from France,” Pietersen said of the return from the Sunday game in France. “George had stayed behind in Durban and was running the backline show at training (15 players did not travel to Toulouse), while Jordan only arrived back on Tuesday. It’s a great opportunity for George to play next to Andre, and Jordan will add impact off the bench.”

A big boost for the Sharks is the return of fullback Aphelele Fassi, who badly injured an ankle on September 13 against the All Blacks in Wellington.

“Fassi’s been training with us for three weeks,” said Pietersen. “He’s fit, mentally in a good space and excited. Will he be a little rusty? Maybe. But he’s experienced enough to handle it.”

Pietersen has moved Springbok wing Ethan Hooker to outside centre to form a potentially lethal combination with Esterhuizen.

"Ethan has always been a centre (at high school), although it feels like he’s always helping out on the wing, and he does a phenomenal job on the wing. But we want to give Ethan a chance at centre, and I think it’s a great opportunity for him to play there.”

Sharks team

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (capt), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Phatu Ganyane.

Bench: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Nick Hatton, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Jordan Hendrikse.