JP Pietersen
Encyclopedia
Jon-Paul Roger "JP" Pietersen (born 12 July 1986 in Stellenbosch, South Africa) is a South African rugby union
footballer. He generally plays fullback or wing for the Sharks (in the Super Rugby competition) and the Natal Sharks
in the Currie Cup
. He has ten test caps with the Springboks.
, but made his provincial debut with the Natal Sharks
as a 19-year old during the 2005 Currie Cup season. His 2006 Super 14 season
was disrupted by injuries but despite this, he was included in the South African under-21 team to compete at the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship
. South Africa made the final, but were defeated by the hosts, France. Upon arriving back to South Africa after the under-21 World Championship he was named in the Springboks' 2006 Tri Nations Series
squad where he debuted against New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium
in Rustenburg.
Pietersen's deceptive pace and gliding runs make him an unpredictable back-line player, with the ability to break the line at will and create attacking opportunities for his team. He is also a clinical finisher, and was the leading try scorer in the 2007 Super 14
competition with 12 tries from 15 games. However, Pietersen's weaknesses include his occasional susceptibility to poor handling, being particularly frail protecting the "high ball" and often "knocking on" in seemingly innocuous situations, a penchant which has often led to him being chastised by the local media and fans alike. Despite this, Pietersen remains a firm fan favourite for the unpredictable and exciting dimension his play brings to the team. Before the emergence of Francois Steyn
at the Sharks franchise, Pietersen was seen as the ideal replacement for Percy Montgomery
as fullback, however with Steyn being able to play at either fullback, wing or fly-half, Pietersen now finds his role as play-maker in the Sharks team divided as either wing or fullback.
He was selected into the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup
squad. Starting in the first two matches, Pietersen scored three tries. He was impressive in the game against England
, scoring two tries and setting up a third.
The top try-scorer in the 2007 Super 14 failed to score even one in 2008
, a fact acknowledged by both AJ Venter
and Stefan Terblanche
in the October 2008 edition of SA Sports Illustrated
.
However, post World Cup Pietersen went on to establish the most capped wing combination in Springbok history with Bryan Habana, standing currently at 25 tests. Ten more than next best, James Small and Jaques Olivier. Aside from his obvious attacking abilities, Pietersen is widely regarded for his outstanding defense. His cover defence being the saving grace of the Springbok's 2008 End of Year Tour, manfully keeping the Welsh at bay, and dominating his opposite Shane Williams. His all-round skills remain of the highest standard, maturing into one of the best wings post readmission. He will be a key figure in the Springbok's upcoming World Cup campaign in New Zealand, and if he can find and maintain the form he is well known for, it will go a long way in establishing a successful campaign.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He generally plays fullback or wing for the Sharks (in the Super Rugby competition) and the Natal Sharks
Natal Sharks
The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
in the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
. He has ten test caps with the Springboks.
Career
Pietersen was educated at the Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog in WitbankWitbank
Witbank , also known as eMalahleni is a city situated on the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the eMalahleni Local Municipality. The name Witbank is Afrikaans for White Ridge and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested...
, but made his provincial debut with the Natal Sharks
Natal Sharks
The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
as a 19-year old during the 2005 Currie Cup season. His 2006 Super 14 season
2006 Super 14 season
The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday 10 February 2006. The Grand Final was held on Saturday 27 May 2006. Super 14 is a provincial rugby union competition with 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the...
was disrupted by injuries but despite this, he was included in the South African under-21 team to compete at the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship
2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship
The 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship was played in the Auvergne region of France throughout June 2006. The final was played between South Africa and France at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, which saw France win 24 to 13....
. South Africa made the final, but were defeated by the hosts, France. Upon arriving back to South Africa after the under-21 World Championship he was named in the Springboks' 2006 Tri Nations Series
2006 Tri Nations Series
-Week 2:-Week 3:-Week 4:* All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup-Week 5:-Week 6:-Week 7:-Week 8:-Week 9:-External links:* * *...
squad where he debuted against New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Royal Bafokeng Stadium
The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace is a football, rugby and athletics stadium in Phokeng near Rustenburg, South Africa It was built and is managed by the Royal Bafokeng Nation.. It is used as the home stadium for Premier Soccer League club Platinum Stars...
in Rustenburg.
Pietersen's deceptive pace and gliding runs make him an unpredictable back-line player, with the ability to break the line at will and create attacking opportunities for his team. He is also a clinical finisher, and was the leading try scorer in the 2007 Super 14
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
competition with 12 tries from 15 games. However, Pietersen's weaknesses include his occasional susceptibility to poor handling, being particularly frail protecting the "high ball" and often "knocking on" in seemingly innocuous situations, a penchant which has often led to him being chastised by the local media and fans alike. Despite this, Pietersen remains a firm fan favourite for the unpredictable and exciting dimension his play brings to the team. Before the emergence of Francois Steyn
François Steyn
Francois Steyn is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the South African national team; and Racing Métro 92 in Paris. He was a member of the South African team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup...
at the Sharks franchise, Pietersen was seen as the ideal replacement for Percy Montgomery
Percy Montgomery
Percival Colin "Percy" Montgomery is a retired South African rugby union player...
as fullback, however with Steyn being able to play at either fullback, wing or fly-half, Pietersen now finds his role as play-maker in the Sharks team divided as either wing or fullback.
He was selected into the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad. Starting in the first two matches, Pietersen scored three tries. He was impressive in the game against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, scoring two tries and setting up a third.
The top try-scorer in the 2007 Super 14 failed to score even one in 2008
2008 Super 14 season
The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 31 May, when the Crusaders won their seventh Super Rugby title with a 20–12 victory over the Waratahs in front of the Crusaders' home fans. The 2008 season was the third of the expansion,...
, a fact acknowledged by both AJ Venter
AJ Venter
AJ Venter is a retired South African rugby union footballer. Who played for the Sharks in the international Super 14 competition, and the Natal Sharks in the domestic Currie Cup competition. Venter has also played for the South African national team, the Springboks.Venter made his debut for South...
and Stefan Terblanche
Stefan Terblanche
Stefan Terblanche is a South African rugby union player. He plays mostly at fullback also has the ability to play at centre or on the wing.-Career:...
in the October 2008 edition of SA Sports Illustrated
SA Sports Illustrated
SA Sports Illustrated is a South African sports magazine published in print monthly.Founded in 1986, it is today South Africa's most popular sporting periodical...
.
However, post World Cup Pietersen went on to establish the most capped wing combination in Springbok history with Bryan Habana, standing currently at 25 tests. Ten more than next best, James Small and Jaques Olivier. Aside from his obvious attacking abilities, Pietersen is widely regarded for his outstanding defense. His cover defence being the saving grace of the Springbok's 2008 End of Year Tour, manfully keeping the Welsh at bay, and dominating his opposite Shane Williams. His all-round skills remain of the highest standard, maturing into one of the best wings post readmission. He will be a key figure in the Springbok's upcoming World Cup campaign in New Zealand, and if he can find and maintain the form he is well known for, it will go a long way in establishing a successful campaign.
External links
- JP Pietersen's official website
- JP Pietersen on sharksrugby.co.za
- JP Pietersen on sarugby.com
- JP: I was born to play rugby
- http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/content.aspx?id=19832 on 2011 sharksrugby.co.za