"Going to be sad for us" - Sharks coach JP Pietersen prepares for Siya Kolisi's Stormers transfer

Siya Kolisi’s impending return to the DHL Stormers may already be looming large, but for now the Springboks captain remains a central figure in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ push this season. Kolisi made a telling impact off the bench in Cape Town last weekend, helping the Sharks secure a 30–19 URC victory over his future employers.

With the sides set to meet again in Durban on Saturday, Sharks head coach JP Pietersen believes Kolisi still has a huge role to play before his departure at the end of the campaign.

“I think he was huge for us when he came on in the second half, with his leadership and his actions and what he did around the field,” said Pietersen. "You could see the way he was talking. He was massive for us in that time he was on. He gives belief and what he is saying makes people better around him.

“It’s going to be sad for us seeing him go to the Stormers, but he’s still got a job to do for us until the end of the season. I am just happy with what he can contribute to us in terms of his leadership. You can’t coach leadership and he was born with it.”

Pietersen also praised full-back Aphelele Fassi, who claimed Player of the Match honours as the Sharks handed the Stormers their first league defeat of the season. “He was good. He’s got that X-factor that any team wants,” he said.

“There’s his attacking ability, but also his technical ability. He’s got a kicking game and he’s good on the high ball, knowing when to transfer.”

There were warm words too for centre Andre Esterhuizen, who has been installed as Sharks captain since Pietersen took charge in December. “I think André is leading well,” said the former Springboks winger.

“He challenges the group and when he plays well, the team plays well. I just love the way he carries the team. He is a Sharks boy. He knows Durban in and out and lives and breathes Durban.”

Looking back on the bonus-point win in Cape Town, Pietersen highlighted execution and efficiency as the key differences between the sides. “It was a South African derby and it was physical and hard and we love it. The plan we had was good and we executed it. Sometimes we didn’t and that’s part of the game, but when it went wrong, I liked what the boys did. They showed some fight and scrambled to get the ball back.

“The key was our fast start and we put them under pressure from the start of both halves. We took our opportunities more than they did. They made some unforced errors when they got into our 22. I think they will be kicking themselves because they created opportunities, but couldn’t finish.

“When you create pressure, you have to turn that into points and I think that was the difference between the teams. One side converted and the other didn’t. Those are the margins of the game. I think John Dobson will be a bit frustrated.”

With a quick turnaround and another derby on the horizon, Pietersen is braced for a fired-up Stormers response in Durban.

“They will definitely come back harder this weekend,” he said. "We know they are going to come up to Durban wanting to prove a point. The challenge in rugby is always ‘Can you double up?’ and that is the thing.

“We will have a full go again. It is the same team we are playing, so we don’t have to completely change the plan, but we can tweak here and there.”