Sharks coach JP Pietersen reacts to All Blacks thumping

It was an emotional start as new signing Ma'a Nonu responded to the All Blacks' Haka with one of his own. The Sharks threatened in the opening quarter, but the visitors were full of running and class as they racked up 54 points against a young Sharks team.

With several high-profile players in the Springbok squad and a slew of injuries, the Durban franchise could only put out a talented but inexperienced side. This, against an All Blacks matchday 23 featuring many who will start against the Boks next week, meant there was only ever going to be one outcome.

Fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya is just 18-years-old, and 20-year-old fly half Vusi Moyo was playing in just his second game for the franchise. Sevens specialist Donovan Don and winger Litelihle Bester are just 24 and 22, respectively.

"I was also young when I started playing, and you only learn by playing," reflected Pietersen.

"It's a new combination. It's the first time, I think, Siyaya, Donovan and Bester played together in the backfield, so there's not really cohesion.

"With pre-season going into the next six or seven weeks, we'll build cohesion, and they will learn game management as part of the game.

"We're in pre-season now,  we'd prepped ourselves to go for it.

"It's a once-off game, go for gold. I think that's what the mindset was in the game. 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. They played with confidence, and they showed it in the second half."

All Blacks legend Nonu has signed with the club for three months as more of a coach than a player. But he put in a 20-minute shift against the country he played for 102 times, making several powerful runs.

Pietersen revealed that the 44-year-old has already had a positive impact at the club.

"He's been good to the group, especially the backs," he continued.

"As you can see, we've got the youth in the backs. He's been a great addition to us. He has also been good off the field - just being prepped, how you prep, how you do prehab before the game, how you warm up, how you get your mindset ready before training. He's been good in that space."

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