Pienaar named at five-eighth for Springboks
By Daniel Gilhooly, 22 Jul 2009 Daniel Gilhooly is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Adrian Jacobs, All Blacks, Bismarck Du Plessis, Bryan Habana, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Heinrich Brussow, Jannie du Plessis, Jean de Villiers, JP Pietersen, Ricky Januarie, Springboks, Tendai Mtawarira, The British and Irish Lions, Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier
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Ruan Pienaar will wear the contentious Springboks five-eighth jersey in Sunday morning’s Tri-Nations rugby Test against the All Blacks at Bloemfontein.
Pienaar fought off the challenge of Bulls superboot Morne Steyn to be handed the playmaking role in what is a Springboks side at very close to full strength.
The only players missing from the starting side who beat the British and Irish Lions in the second Test to wrap up the series at Pretoria last month are injured centre Adrian Jacobs and suspended flanker Schalk Burger.
Coach Peter De Villiers has opted for the skill of Pienaar, despite some mixed form early in the Lions series, with Steyn coming on late to kick the matchwinning penalty at Pretoria. Pienaar will carry the goalkicking duties.
The midfield was the other area of debate but made easier for the coach as Jacobs has struggled all week with a groin injury.
Centre Jaque Fourie has been cleared of a quad niggle and will start at centre, alongside long-time midfield colleague Jean de Villiers.
Fullback Francois Steyn and wingers JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana form a predictable, if potent, back three.
Captain John Smit at tighthead prop is part of the all-Sharks front row who demolished the Lions in the first Test at Durban.
World class Bulls pair Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha are reunited at lock after Botha was suspended from the third Lions Test at Johannesburg.
Burger is still serving his ban for eye gouging, leaving Heinrich Brussow in the openside role while Juan Smith will be on the blindside, meaning both flankers will play at their Cheetahs home ground, Vodacom Park.
Super 14 stars with the Bulls, No.8 Pierre Spies and halfback Fourie du Preez form a key combination at the base of the Springboks scrum.
© AAP 2013SPRINGBOKSFrans Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; John Smit (capt), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Morne Steyn, Wynand Olivier.
July 22nd 2009 @ 8:34am
Rusty said | July 22nd 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
Still to many blokes without game time and with niggling injuries but overall the selection holds no surprises and is a very solid looking team.
July 22nd 2009 @ 9:07am
van der Merwe said | July 22nd 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
With the possible exception of Pienaar, this is the best team de Villiers could have selected.
July 22nd 2009 @ 9:30am
Temba said | July 22nd 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Agreed, its nice to get an unsurprising selection, let hope the subs will be at the right time and right amount.
July 22nd 2009 @ 11:00pm
Knives Out said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:00pm | Report comment
‘Agreed, its nice to get an unsurprising selection’
This is the Lions test side bar the ommission of Jacobs. Where is the pleasant surprise?
July 22nd 2009 @ 9:37am
Brett McKay said | July 22nd 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
looks a strong side – even with Pienaar, van der Merwe
July 22nd 2009 @ 9:47am
Rusty said | July 22nd 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Event the bench is better balanced although going for form I would replace Januarie with Vermaak. Ricky is out of shape and out of form – he needs more game time with Province to sort both. I like Chilliboys passion and commitment but I would prefer Tiaan Liebenberg who is bigger, a very strong scrummager and really gets around the park.
July 22nd 2009 @ 7:08pm
Spencer said | July 22nd 2009 @ 7:08pm | Report comment
Rust – I heard that SARU are struggling with ticket sales at Bloem, and have reduced prices. What’s that about?
July 22nd 2009 @ 6:07pm
Brendan said | July 22nd 2009 @ 6:07pm | Report comment
Rusty
I think by now everyone knows why Januarie is there. Clearly he is very much out of form and there are at least two scrumhalves in SA who deserve to be there ahead of him; Vermaak, as you mention, and kockett however affirmative action is a reality of SA rugby so we should try get used to it. I think the same could be said of Jacob’s as clearly Fourie is a far better centre although to be fair Jacobs had a reasonable year last year while Fourie was injured.
The one black player who I think deserves a second chance is Lawrebce Sephaka. He is a reasonable scrummager (I shouldn’t say that too loudly otherwise I will have Knives Out on my case) and very good in the loose.
Here’s to a great game Sat afternoon (evening Aus time)
July 22nd 2009 @ 11:02pm
Knives Out said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:02pm | Report comment
‘Lawrebce Sephaka. He is a reasonable scrummager’
That’s not what Phil Vickery says, Brendan.
July 22nd 2009 @ 11:07pm
Stash said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:07pm | Report comment
That’s a good solid team – the tight five are going to make the breakdown a tough place. Brussow is a good player and SA will not lose anything with him there. I have never really rated Jacobs – flashes here and there but unconvincing overall, so no real lose there.
The bench looks packed with “second chancers” as opposed to impact players that seems to be the trend upwards this day. This could be the undoing, as it seems as if the Boks stutter towards the end – with all their good work happening in the opening stanzas.
If the ABs pick up where they left off on Saturday – Boks will need to play smart (and not all at once).
July 22nd 2009 @ 11:33pm
Laurens K said | July 22nd 2009 @ 11:33pm | Report comment
At least with Ricki January there we have extra cover at prop!
Looks like a good team, let’s hope for a Bok win, as this will make the 3N very interesting.