JP Pietersen says Sharks could not match All Blacks’ pace in 54-0 defeat

Sharks coach JP Pietersen said his side were overwhelmed by the All Blacks’ speed after New Zealand turned a competitive opening quarter into a 54-0 victory in Durban on Tuesday.

The Sharks started with intent in the one-off match and briefly put the visitors under significant pressure. They came close to scoring the opening try but were held up over the line before New Zealand gradually took control.

Pietersen said his plan had been for the Sharks to attack the occasion and challenge the All Blacks from the outset.

“We were going to go for it, put pressure on them as much as we can. I think we did that in the first 15 minutes,” Pietersen reflected.

The South African franchise sides are currently in pre-season, a factor which can contribute to fitness problems as matches become more demanding. The Sharks were unable to sustain their early intensity, while New Zealand grew increasingly dominant as the contest progressed.

Pietersen accepted that the scoreline was difficult to view but praised the effort of his players throughout the match.

“Look at the scoreboard, it’s not nice to see,” Pietersen said.

“But the boys fought from minute one to minute 80.”

However, the Sharks coach acknowledged that his team fell well short of the All Blacks after half-time, when New Zealand’s pace and accuracy became too much for them.

“We couldn’t match their speed in the second half. We were just behind in everything they did.

“We were just way off the pace in the second half,” he acknowledged.

The scale of the defeat contrasted sharply with the Sharks’ promising start. Their early pressure suggested they could make the match competitive, but New Zealand’s ability to maintain its tempo exposed the difference between the two teams as the game wore on.

Nick Hatton, who captained the Sharks on the night, said the team had expected to produce a much stronger overall display.

“Wedisappointedthe way the second half went. The goal was to go for gold and put in a stronger peformance than we did,” Hatton said.

Despite the heavy loss, Hatton believes the experience of facing the All Blacks will provide valuable lessons for the Sharks.

“We will definitely learn a lot from playing a side like the All Blacks.”

The All Blacks will continue their tour against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00.