'It felt like a Test match, it felt like a jol,' says JP Pietersen after Sharks defeat of Bulls

Sharks coach JP Pietersen says his mind was racing in the frantic final minutes of his team’s 21-12 victory over the Bulls in a pulsating United Rugby Championship encounter at an explosive Kings Park arena on Saturday night.

“It was a crazy last quarter, it was hard to process what was going on after a fierce contest, but what was clear is that our bench made a big impact, notably (scrumhalf) Jaden Hendrikse,” Pietersen said.

“Jaden pulled off five big moments that changed the game,” Pietersen said of the Springbok scrumhalf’s role in creating two late tries that sealed the deal.

There was a crowd of 45000 packed into the Shark Tank, the biggest crowd at the venue since 2012. Pietersen said the huge turnout inspired his players.

“We wanted to make the Sharks community proud. A performance like that shows that we care, that we play to the end, and that we find a way to get over the line.

“A lot went into organising our annual Sharkfest, and it was up to us to do the job on the field,” the coach said. “It felt like it was a Test match. It felt like a ‘jol’.

"I am looking forward to hearing what my daughter says because she likes a party, and it felt like a big party was going on in the stands.

“It was special. It means a lot to the guys that have been here for a long time, and for the new guys to feel and experience what this stadium can provide. It will sit in their hearts, and they will realise that Durban is a special place.”

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said it felt like fate was against his team.

“It hurts a lot because it felt like we were getting on top for most of the game, but then it didn’t happen, and it slipped away from us.

“We were getting scrum dominance, but we did not capitalise because a few phases down the line, we would give the ball away.

“We lost key moments in the second half.

“It was one of those situations where the harder we tried, the more things did not go our way.

“We understand that our supporters will feel let down, but sometimes you go through struggles for a reason,” Ackermann continued. “People who are struggling because they do not have work, and do not have food… They keep on going, so how can we give up? We won’t, and I felt our players fought to the end.”