Sharks coach JP Pietersen has challenged Suleiman Hartzenberg to seize his opportunity at centre against Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday.
The Sharks, the only South African club to have won the competition, reached the round of 16 last season after failing to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup playoffs.
Pietersen has rested his frontline Springboks for the trip to France, making 12 changes to the starting XV that lost to the Stormers in Cape Town. No 8 Nick Hatton will captain the side at the Stade de Gerland.
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Hartzenberg will combine with Murray Koster in midfield, with Pietersen keen to give the former Stormers player a chance to show his ability in his preferred position.
“Obviously at the Stormers he was used as a wing, but he’s a centre-wing, not a wing-centre so we just want to give him a fair enough opportunity,” he said.
“He’s a phenomenal talent, he speaks well and he leads well too. He’s got deep fundamentals and understands the game well and he’s got more than 50 caps for the Stormers.”
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The Sharks coach also rejected suggestions that his selection lacks experience or cohesion.
“If you look into our team in detail, it’s quite an experienced team,” Pietersen said. “There are guys in the team who have played between 50 and 100 games for the Sharks.
“We’ve also got players who’ve got cohesiveness, for example Emile van Heerden – who was our Player of the Year last year – and Stephan Lewies, who’s played plenty of games for Harlequins and the Sharks.
“Then you’ve got a loose trio of Manu Tshituka, Nick Hatton and Matt Ramao who’ve played together a lot and right through the pre-season.
“So there’s cohesiveness and it’s a very good team we’ve got.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post JP: Suleiman must show what he’s got appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Sharks coach JP Pietersen has challenged Suleiman Hartzenberg to seize his opportunity at centre against Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday.
The post JP: Suleiman must show what he’s got appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
