BOK PROPS BELIEVE EX-SA WING PIETERSEN HAS WHAT IT TAKES AS A HEAD COACH

SPRINGBOK prop Ox Nche and World Cup-winner Steven Kitshoff believe former Bok flyer JP Pietersen has what it takes to make it big as a head coach.

Pietersen has enjoyed a pleasing start to his career as master tactician at the Sharks after taking over from John Plumtree last month.

After two wins in four matches, Nche said of his mentor: “JP tells us the key is our mental state because we have the ability. We have guys with amazing ability, but the big thing JP has been working on is the mental side of the game.

“The guys need to start believing in themselves and are putting in the extras they need to get to where JP wants us to be.

“It is about changing the mindset – how they see the game in terms of how hard they work and putting in the effort for their teammates.”

Kitshoff believes there are encouraging signs that the Sharks’ new identity under Pietersen is starting to take shape despite the results not yet reflecting it, with the Durban side having lost their last match 26-10 to Sale Sharks in Manchester at the weekend.

Kitshoff said on the GameTime podcast: “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.

“You can see that with the results that they have been getting over the last couple of weekends.”

While the scoreboard again went against the Sharks in the Champions Cup, they still have a shot at making the playoffs.

Down in fifth place in Pool 1, they need a miracle. But Nche is confident and says they will go all-out against Saracens in their final pool match on Sunday, while hoping other results go their way.

Nche added: “The aim is maximum points. We want to win and hopefully pick up extra points to improve our points difference.

“We’re going all in...”