Sharks captain Nick Hatton stated that the players will never forget the impressions from the match against the mighty All Blacks, and they can be proud of the efforts they made to hold off possibly the most attacking team in world rugby.
Hatton noted that the opportunity to play against the All Blacks is something special for the club, as such opportunities are not provided to many other teams. He also shared emotional moments, including participation in the haka and Ma'a Nonu's reaction to the famous challenge.
Ma'a Nonu, who joined the Sharks less than two weeks ago on a four-month contract, has already made a big impression on the players. Hatton emphasized that Nonu proved useful to the group, especially for the backline players, becoming a valuable addition by helping the team with preparation, preventative medicine, and match setup.
Coach JP Pietersen expressed pride in the young team's efforts, but he also admitted that his players were outnumbered in strength, especially in the second half when the Kiwi team took control of the game. The match took place during the Sharks' pre-season training, and some lack of fitness was inevitable as they had not played since mid-May.
Although the score was 14-0 in favor of the Sharks at halftime, there were already signs that the Kiwis would increase their pressure in the second half. Ultimately, they won with a score of 54-0. In the first quarter, it was visible how the Sharks aimed to play according to Pietersen's tactics, demonstrating readiness to retain possession and play at a fast pace.
Pietersen explained that the team prepared for this match as a one-off event, aiming to achieve the best possible result and put maximum pressure on the opponent in the first fifteen minutes. The coach also noted that the players gained immense experience from this game.
The Sharks' backline included young players from Junior Boks such as Vusi Moyo, Zekhethelo Siyaya, and Litelihle Bester, as well as Blitzbok Donovan Don. Pietersen added that learning only happens through practice. Since this is a new combination, and for the first time Ziyaya, Donovan, and Bester played together in defense, cohesion is still lacking. However, over the next six or seven weeks of pre-season, the team will build this cohesion and master game management.
