Cape Town - Back after a few weeks on the crocked list, Sharks and Springbok utility back JP Pietersen will need to get up to speed pretty quickly ... he almost certainly polices explosive Highlanders outside centre Malakai Fekitoa on Friday.
Pietersen has been confirmed as wearing the tourists’ No 13 jersey for the Super Rugby clash in Dunedin (09:35 SA time), replacing another stalwart in Waylon Murray who returns to the bench.
Muscular young Andre Esterhuizen, perhaps yet to fully convince that he offers a true cutting edge at this level in an offensive capacity, retains the inside centre role, and his alliance with vastly experienced, well-travelled Pietersen will offer the required physical dimensions - on paper, at any rate - to try to keep someone like Fekitoa quiet.