Sharks head coach JP Pietersen is excited about the future of 18-year-old fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya.
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There was no masking the bitter disappointment in Sharks coach JP Pietersen’s voice when he commented on his team’s failure to make the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals.
The Sharks lost 33-28 to Edinburgh on Friday night to extinguish their faint hopes of finishing in the tournament’s top eight. The Sharks still have two matches to play — against Benetton and Zebre — but the gap between them and the eighth-placed team is now too vast to bridge.
“Obviously, I am very disappointed with the result,” Pietersen said. “It was two matches on the road that I felt we could have won, especially this one that seemed closer.”
The week before, the Sharks had controversially lost to the Ospreys.
“The top eight is out of reach now, and by our standards to finish outside of the top eight is hugely disappointing,” Pietersen admitted.
The Sharks had a good opening quarter and opened the scoring in the sixth minute when wing Edwill van der Merwe completed an impressive passage of play. At one point, they led 21-14.
“I felt we had control in the first half. We started well, scored a good try. In saying that, we gave away two tries in the first half through soft moments,” Pietersen said. “At times, we didn’t manage the game well. We gave away soft penalties and easy exits in our half.”
Midway through the second half, Edinburgh scored three tries in eight minutes to take the game away from the visitors.
“When we got the ball, we didn’t kick it out, which would have given us control. We kept it in play, which put us under pressure and resulted in them scoring,” Pietersen explained. “They scored soon after with a quick kick-off. We could have done better by anticipating that.”
There was also an unfortunate concussion suffered by playmaker Jaden Hendrikse after just 25 minutes.
“Losing Jaden in the first half was difficult,” said Pietersen. “Someone with his experience, his game management during that pressure cycle would have been important for us.”
Pietersen said his group of players has plenty to learn from their failed campaign.
“We are learning as a group. This group is learning to win. My job as a coach is to get this group of players to believe and to convert these opportunities into winning games. I am committed to doing this.”
A huge positive from the tour is the emergence of the brilliant 18-year-old fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya.
“Siyaya impressed me yet again. This kid is unreal! This is what you want from our players. He is the real deal.”