Coach JP Pietersen has backed Gianni Lombard to cope with the pressure of the Sharks No 10 jersey in Friday night’s URC clash against Cardiff at the Arms Park. MORNÉ ESBEN reports.
Lombard is the third different flyhalf the Sharks have used in as many matches across the URC and EPCR Challenge Cup. Vusi Moyo started against the Stormers and was injured in that game. Jordan Hendrikse took over against Lyon in the Challenge Cup and was injured as well.
Pietersen believes the opportunity has come at the right time for Lombard.
“It’s a big change at 10, but hopefully we can get settled at flyhalf,” he said. “We had Vusi starting at 10 against the Stormers and Jordan starting against Lyon at 10 and now we have Gianni.
“Vusi got injured in that Stormers game and Jordan got injured against Lyon, so it does give Gianni an opportunity.
“He’s been training well, he’s applied himself, he’s leading well, speaking well in the group and he’s got heaps of experience and he’s a gifted player. His fundamentals are good and hopefully the team can help him.”
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Lombard will be helped by the return of five Springboks. Centre and captain André Esterhuizen and wingers Ethan Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe start, while props Ox Nché and Thomas du Toit are on the bench. All five were rested for last Saturday’s 40-33 win in France.
The Sharks are also keen to string together results on the road. Pietersen says last season’s away form was not good enough.
“We’re chasing consistency in performance. That will be the ultimate goal for us. From last season’s results point of view, we never really performed away from home so that’s something that we do want to be better at.
“We need to be more consistent away from home and not just be a team that performs with home-ground advantage, so that’s what we’re chasing for the Cardiff and Munster games.”
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Cardiff will not make it easy. Pietersen pointed to their strong home record and the South African influence in the camp, including former Sharks centre Le Roux Malan.
“Cardiff’s got a South African flavour,” Pietersen said. “Corniel [van Zyl] is a very good coach and last season they made the top eight and obviously their record is very good at home. I think they just lost one match. Le Roux Malan was obviously with us last season so he knows the ins and outs and the players.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
