Steven Kitshoff believes there are encouraging signs that the Sharks’ new identity under coach JP Pietersen is starting to take shape.
This despite the results not quite yet reflecting it.
The former Stormers and Springbok prop was speaking after the Durban-based side’s 26-10 defeat to the Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup – a weekend that proved bruising for South African teams in Europe. Yet, in Kitshoff’s view, the Sharks showed something the others did not.
“All three of our main teams in the Champions Cup took big losses, but one team that actually did better than we all thought was the Sharks,” Kitshoff said on the GameTime podcast. “I think that was probably the best result we could have seen from a South African team, even though they lost the game.”
While the scoreboard again went against the Sharks, Kitshoff pointed to a shift in effort, fight and identity – things that Pietersen has been tasked with restoring since taking over from John Plumtree.
He singled out a returning Springbok and a young scrummager as symbols of that renewed edge.
“Vincent Koch, who is back from a shoulder injury, really put up a good performance,” he said. “Lee-Marvin [Mazibuko] in the scrums really showed some character. The team only scored one try, but there were great performances on defence from both teams.”
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The defeat also came with off-field noise, with Sharks owner Marco Masotti jokingly calling for a “Sale Tuna” rebrand earlier in the week.
“Unfortunately, the Sharks did lose, and Masotti had to eat his words, some humble pie, because of comments made earlier in the week,” Kitshoff added.
Still, the bigger picture matters more.
“It almost seems that JP is turning this team’s character around a bit; they’re not playing the most beautiful, brilliant rugby, but as a team, they’re actually performing better week in and week out,” said Kitshoff. “You can see that with the results that they have been getting over the last couple of weekends.”
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Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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