Andre Esterhuizen believes the Sharks may finally have turned the corner ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes URC derby against the Bulls at Kings Park.
The Durban outfit has long been one of South African rugby’s most perplexing sides – packed with Springbok stars yet struggling for form and consistency, often leaving fans and pundits scratching their heads.
But after managing just one win from their opening seven fixtures across all competitions, they broke their slump last weekend with a crucial 28-23 triumph over Saracens in the Investec Champions Cup in their first match under new interim coach JP Pietersen.
Siya Kolisi, Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe and Grant Williams all crossed the line, securing a bonus-point victory that breathed new life into their push for a place in the knockout rounds.
Attention now shifts back to the URC, as they prepare to host the Bulls in Durban seeking to climb off 14th on the log.
Esterhuizen, who led the team in his milestone 100th appearance, produced a Man of the Match performance to steer the Sharks to that long-awaited win, and has proven to be a pivotal figure in their recent resurgence.
“Hopefully, we have turned the corner and can start building momentum,” said the 31-year-old.
“During the week before the game, we had a lot of honest conversations. The players understood that they had to take accountability for everything that had happened.
“I was proud of the boys for the way we got stuck in. It was tough, it was tight, my voice was almost gone from screaming on defence.”
Esterhuizen highlighted the importance of teamwork and a clear game plan in turning their fortunes around.
“There were big changes, so we needed to reset and have a plan for the boys to follow as a team, not as individuals,” he said.
“You could see the teamwork coming through, notably on defence. There were quite a few instances where we just kept tackling and tackling as a unit. I was very proud of the way we played. We have something to build on.”
Esterhuizen, standing 1.93m and weighing 116kg, recently embraced a new hybrid role for the Springboks, combining his skills at centre with additional duties in the back row to showcase his remarkable size, skill, and versatility.
“It’s been a good experience. I have enjoyed it and I believe it is a good attribute for the future,” he said.
“It offers so many more options. As you gets older, you learn how you can slot into different positions and it helps to get into the team more constantly.
“You need to learn to adapt as a player. I think it helps me as a player personally and it helps the team as well.”
Speaking about Esterhuizen, new interim coach Pietersen reflected on their long-standing connection, stretching back to Andre’s early days at the Sharks:
“I remember Andre’s debut,” he said. “I was playing when he came on the wing against the Hurricanes in New Zealand in 2014 and we played a lot of games together.
“He’s grown so much. He’s become a proper all-round player – they call him the hybrid now.
“I’m very proud of him. The way he leads, the way he talks, his decision-making on the field. I don’t need to step in much, which tells you he’s a natural leader.”
