JP Pietersen

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JP Pietersen

by Juiced Media (Pty) Ltd
Personal information
Full name Jon-Paul Roger Pietersen
Date of birth July 12 1986 ( 1986-07-12) (age 21)
Place of birth Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Nickname JP
School General Hertzog High
Occupation(s)    Professional rugby union footballer
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position fullback,wing
Clubs Caps (points)
2005- Jaguars, Sharks Academy
Provincial/State sides Caps (points)
2005 Natal Sharks 19 (45)
Super Rugby    
2006- Sharks 18 (60)
National team(s)    
2006- South Africa 10 (25)

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 14 competition) and the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup. He has nine test caps with the Springboks.

Pietersen was educated at Hoerskool General Hertzog. It was during the 2005 Currie Cup season that he burst onto the South African rugby scene for the Natal Sharks as a 19-year old. 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 a clinical finisher, being the leading try scorer in the 2007 Super 14 competition with 11 tries from 13 games (as at 05/05/2007). An often criticised aspect of his game, is his 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.

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v • d • e
South Africa squad - 2007 Rugby World Cup
Forwards
B. Botha • BJ Botha (injured) • G. Botha • Burger • B. du Plessis • J. du Plessis (sub) • du Randt • Matfield • Muller • Rossouw • Skinstad • Smit (c) • Smith • Steenkamp • van den Berg • van der Linde • van Heerden
Backs
de Villiers (injured) • du Preez • Fourie • Habana • James • Januarie • Julies (sub) • Montgomery • Ndungane • Olivier • Pietersen • Pienaar • Pretorius • Steyn • Willemse
Coach