Coach JP Pietersen lauded Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker after the Sharks’ 28-23 Investec Champions Cup win against Saracens at Kings Park. SIMON BORCHARDT reports.

Captain Esterhuizen marked his 100th appearance for the Sharks with a commanding performance at 12, while Hooker – who made a major impact for the Springboks on the wing this season – was just as impactful at 13.

“They complement each other really well, defensively and on attack,” said Pietersen, who took over from John Plumtree this week. “It feels like we’ve got 10 forwards on the field. When the forwards don’t give us momentum, we can rely on Andre and Ethan to do something in the midfield and give us go-forward.

“Ethan is a centre – the wing is just an option. From my side, I’m very comfortable with him there.”

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Pietersen was also full of praise for Esterhuizen’s leadership on a landmark night for the skipper.

“I remember Andre’s debut – I was there when he came on the wing in New Zealand against the Hurricanes [in 2014], and we played a lot of games together. He’s grown so much. He’s become a proper all-round player – they call him the hybrid now.

“I’m really proud of him. The way he leads, the way he talks, his decision-making on the field – I don’t need to step in much, which tells you he’s a natural leader.”

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The Sharks bounced back from last weekend’s 56-19 loss to Toulouse to claim a bonus-point win against Saracens that keeps them in playoff contention, with pool matches against the Sale Sharks (away, 10 January) and Clermont (home, 17 January) to come.

“That’s the game of rugby – it’s unpredictable,” Pietersen said. “There were patches where we didn’t do well, but it showed the character in the team. You could see afterwards how much it meant to the players in the change room.

“It wasn’t a perfect performance,” he admitted. “We lost some scrum penalties, aerial battles and lineouts when we needed to score. What we can work on is winning the aerial battle and transferring pressure better when we score.

“When you don’t have the ball or field position, you’re going to defend a lot. If you look at the stats, our tackle count will be way higher. But a win like this gives you belief, hope and lifts the energy in the environment.”

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The focus now shifts back to the Vodacom URC, where the Sharks sit 14th on the log after winning just one of their first six matches. They host the Bulls in a high-stakes South African derby in Durban next Saturday.

“Winning is always important,” Pietersen said. “It gives you belief, something to build on, motivation and confidence going into the next game.

“We know the Bulls won’t be easy – they’re desperate as well – but what a challenge it’s going to be next week.”

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images