‘We do take the Challenge Cup seriously’: JP backs young Sharks team against desperate Lyon

Sharks head coach JP Pietersen defended his choice to leave several Springboks players out of Saturday's Challenge Cup match against Lyon in France. He explained that his team was still made up of experienced players who had built a strong bond since pre-season. Pietersen highlighted the return of last season's player of the year, Emile van Heerden, as well as the inclusion of Springbok flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse, who is making his return after a hamstring injury in March.

This comes after a claim that South African teams do not take the tournament seriously. The news follows Lyon's victory over a similarly depleted Sharks side two years ago, scoring five tries at the same venue, Stade de Gerland, and eliminating them from the tournament.

Boks were advised to rest for the match, with players such as André Esterhuizen, Edwill van der Merwe, Ethan Hooker, Ox Nché and Thomas du Toit taking mandated rest. Other injured Boks Eben Etzebeth, Vusi Moyo, Makazole Mapimpi and Phepsi Buthelezi are currently sidelined. Pietersen emphasized that the team's goals were to make the play-offs and they had decided to rest the Springboks now as the players felt it was best.

The coach mentioned that many of the players have over 50 caps in professional rugby, and the younger players, such as 21-year-old Springbok Jaco Williams, 19-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya and 22-year-old Lili Bester, are part of a new generation of talent at the union. Pietersen described Lyon as emotional after their recent losing streak in the Top 14, and they would come out hard in the game.

The coach stressed the importance of the first 20 minutes of the match to stay in the game and put the opposition under pressure. He acknowledged that winning away from home is tough, as evidenced by the Sharks' lack of success in European matches last year, and that Lyon is a strong team similar to theirs.