Interim coach JP Pietersen admits the Sharks will reflect hard on a series of missed opportunities after a last-gasp 23-22 defeat to the Lions in Durban.
The Sharks turned down several kickable penalties late in the match in favour of pushing for a decisive try, while flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse missed three conversion attempts. That ultimately proved costly as replacement Lions scrumhalf Haashim Pead snatched victory for the visitors in the 81st minute.
However, Pietersen refused to single out the goal-kicking blues and on-field decision-making for the loss, saying his team had had enough opportunities to close out the game.
“I won’t say it was costly,” he said. “We had two clear try-scoring opportunities. If you score those tries, the story is different. In hindsight, yes, you take the three points – that makes sense – but I wouldn’t say that defined the game.
“I also don’t think we must point fingers at [missed] conversions. We scored tries that were pulled back, and that’s potentially 10 points as well. It’s not about one player.”
The two missed opportunities Pietersen referred to were when replacement loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi was held up over the line and when a try was chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up.
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The Sharks dominated territory and possession early in the second half, particularly while the Lions were down to 14 men following flank Ruan Venter’s red card, but failed to convert pressure into points.
“The 10 minutes after half-time, we probably dominated,” Pietersen said. “We just couldn’t convert the opportunities we created.”
Despite the disappointment of a heart-breaking first loss under his guidance, Pietersen praised his players’ resilience after a poor start which saw the Lions charge into a 15-0 lead after only 10 minutes.
“To come back from 15-0 down and still be in the game like that, I’m extremely proud of the boys,” he said. “They fought hard and gave everything. It was a proper local derby – unpredictable and intense.”
Pietersen said a key lesson for his team was the importance of starting stronger.
“If you’re 15-0 down in the first 10 minutes, you give yourself a mountain to climb,” he said. “We showed character to get back into it, but we need to be in the game from minute one if we want to close out tight matches like this.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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