Pietersen praised the brothers' professionalism and dedication to rugby. He emphasized their positive influence on each other and the team.
"If you know them and if you see them daily, they’re completely professional players. They work extremely hard on and off the field. They love rugby, obsessed with the game and push each other. It’s just great to see the two brothers and what a great way for Jordan to get confidence and cohesion to play with his brother, to give him that belief and confidence to perform."
In addition to the Hendrikse brothers, the Sharks are contemplating a co-captaincy model, entrusting Phepsi Buthelezi and Jaden Hendrikse with leadership roles. According to Pietersen, both have demonstrated leadership qualities well before being officially recognized with the captaincy.
"Phepsi’s always been a leader and Jaden’s always been a leader. One’s in charge of the forwards and the other’s in charge of the backs, but we have plenty of leaders around them on the field. Phepsi just needs to do his job, play well and lead where he needs to lead – the same for Jaden. It’s great to see them in that position."
The altitude at Ellis Park presents a unique challenge, acknowledged by Buthelezi who expects a rigorous test against the Lions, especially following their recent performance against the All Blacks.
"I think it’s going to be a step up, especially at altitude. The Lions come off a good performance against the All Blacks, so we’re expecting a much bigger challenge and it’s one we’re excited about."
With the season just around the corner, the upcoming match serves as a pivotal moment for the Sharks to assess their readiness and showcase their strategic enhancements leading into the official campaign.
Buthelezi concluded with optimism about the build-up towards the new season, highlighting the team's eagerness to gauge their preparedness and deliver a strong performance.
"We’re also building up towards our campaign now and as a group we really just want to see where we are and see what we can put out there."
