JP Pietersen: Discipline and focus let Sharks down against Connacht in second half

The Sharks led 12-7 at halftime after a composed opening 40 minutes in which they controlled territory and possession, but were unable to maintain that level after the break as Connacht took control of the Round of 16 clash.

"We're obviously disappointed with how we finished the second half, especially after setting ourselves up so well in the first," Pietersen said after the game. "We dominated territory and possession and went into halftime with a 12-7 lead, which gave us a lot of confidence.

"In the second half, a lack of concentration and discipline let us down. We conceded penalties, which allowed them to kick into the corners and put us under pressure, and they took their opportunities when they came into our 22."

Despite the disappointing result, Pietersen highlighted positives from the first-half display, particularly the team's ability to manage conditions and dictate play.

"They defended well, and it's a disappointing feeling, but there are positives we can take," he said. "The way we played in the first half, how we managed the weather and the conditions and controlled territory, was pleasing.

"At the end, we didn't give up," he added. "We could have lost by 50 points given how much territory and possession they had, but we stayed in the fight until the last minute. That shows there's real grit in this group."

Looking ahead, Pietersen stressed the need for greater consistency as the Sharks turn their attention to the remainder of their URC campaign.

"Going forward, it's about putting together a collective 80-minute performance. That's what we've been lacking - consistency. We've been too up and down this season," he said.

"We'll review the game, look at ourselves, and identify both what we did well and where we need to improve. We've also got a few injuries to assess, so we'll need to make a plan to get players back."

Despite the setback, Pietersen remains optimistic about their prospects of reaching the URC playoffs, with crucial points still on offer in the closing rounds.

"There's still an opportunity for us in the last four games. There are 20 points available, and that could be enough to push for a top-eight finish, so we'll go all out."