The Sharks’ Springbok back Ruan Pienaar has never been shy to express his fondness for the No.9 jersey, but even he admits that he has doubts about what direction to take in the future.
Jan De Koning writes for Rugby 365 that Pienaar, often seen and used as a utility by coaches at both provincial and international level, said he is enjoying spending a bit more time at scrumhalf in the Currie Cup competition.
However, there is a clamour for him to specialise at No.10 to add some much needed depth in the troubled flyhalf spot in the Springbok team.
In his 24 Tests, since his debut in 2006, Pienaar has started at scrumhalf in only four of those, starting twice at fullback and coming on as a replacement in a the other 18 – often as flyhalf. He scored a brilliant try from flyhalf in his last Test outing – a 53-8 rout of Australia in Johannesburg last month.
“Yes, I do enjoy flyhalf, but I prefer No.9,” Pienaar told rugby365.com, just days after playing in the No.10 Sharks jersey in their 44-14 Currie Cup win over the Falcons at the weekend.
Having appeared at scrumhalf in three of the Sharks’ four previous games, with French great Frederic Michalak as his halfback partner, he has been enjoying the extra time at scrumhalf.
“Some people do see me as a flyhalf and some see me as a scrumhalf,” he said, adding that it is a question that comes up constantly.
“I am a little confused about where I should play in the future.
“It is really great to be involved with the Springboks, but it all depends on what happens on the field where I go.
“I do enjoy being back at No.9 [for the Sharks] and I haven’t played a lot there in the past year, so the last few games in the Currie Cup where I played at No.9 I really enjoyed it.
“Hopefully I can get some more game time at scrumhalf, and at this stage I do feel it [No.9] is my best position. As I said I am a touch confused as to what I should do, but I do enjoy my time at No.9 more.”
Pienaar, who like all the World Cup Springboks, were withdrawn from last year’s Currie Cup competition to prepare for the global showpiece in France, said it is “great” to be back at the Sharks.
“It is nice to play Currie Cup rugby, because it’s been a while [2006] since I have played Currie Cup rugby. For me it is great just to get some game time again.”
He also dismissed the notion that “burnout” could be a factor for him, adding that the lure of the Currie Cup is as strong as ever for the players from the national team.
“It is a long season and we do play a lot of rugby, but this is the competition that everybody want to win and want to be part of. It is just great to be involved, and hopefully in the semifinals we can do well and get into the Final,” Pienaar said, pointing out that like all the current Sharks he has never been part of a Currie Cup-winning team – with the Durban-based team’s last taste of glory having been 13 years ago.
“I have never been part of a Currie Cup-winning team, so if it can happen this year or the next few years it will be great to be part of it.”
With the ever-improving Lions looming large this week, described Saturday’s trip to Johannesburg as a “big” game and a good test for them ahead of the semifinals.
“The Lions also have a lot to play for … they can also still get a home semifinal, not to mention that they haven’t secured their play-off spot, so there is plenty to play for.”
With the Sharks having already booked their place in the play-offs, they are now hoping to secure home ground advantage in the semifinals and a possible Final and victory against the Lions will go a long way towards securing that goal.
“It is both important to win and to start getting your game plan in place for the play-offs,” Pienaar said, when asked about the team’s goals for this week.
“The win is important to build confidence ahead of the semifinals, and then it is an opportunity to try a few things and get our game in place.”
He also spoke of the challenge of facing the Lions on their home ground in Johannesburg.
“We know that the Lions will come with a big effort to win the game, so we will have to be at our best to come away with a win.
“The Lions are playing some great rugby and have toppled a number of the big teams this year. There is no doubt it will be a very tough game.”
Tweet
12 years, not 13!
@robdylan (Comment 1) :
Maybe it just feels like 13 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : Nah, mate.
It feels like 30!
@robdylan (Comment 3) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : good morning gentlemen
just been arguing in keo wit a guy called loosehead lol
he was claiming so many players from sharks in the past to be free staters
just proved him wrong and out of 9 mentioned ony 2 were free staters lol
amazing how these people claim players as it suits them
@sharks_lover (Comment 5) :
Maybe it is a screw in his head that is loose and not the whole head. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) :
😆
loosehead is actually a registered user here, but he has never posted anything…
@robdylan (Comment 8) : his heads loose thats why 😆
@sharks_lover (Comment 9) : he he 😉
@robdylan (Comment 1) : Hehehehe, the article said that numbers puzzles him…
@Silver Fox (Comment 11) :
@Silver Fox (Comment 11) : ok – fair enough.
BTW, I actually thought that Pienaar might have a point here. He really has started to look VERY GOOD playing regularly at 9 for the Sharks. Perhaps we’ve been a tad unfair on the lad
Hi Rob
I think the problem is not about him, but the rugby public. He’s played 9 all his life, he’s just so damn good that he can play other positions. He’s a jack of all trades, but master of one and that’s a comfort zone anyone would want.
We see problems for SA and Sharks at 10 and Ruan as the solution. I still believe he has the ability to be a top flyhalf, but without doubt he’s a great 9 as well. Also seems to have taken back the 9 possie from Kockott. Nothing like a bit of compo to bring out the best in a player.
Play where you’re bleedy told to play…
@robdylan (Comment 13) : not purhaps
i was just asked in keo how may boks the sharks could field and what the team should be for lets say the semi’s
this would be it
11 sharks_lover Your comment is awaiting moderation. Report comment
September 24th, 2008 at 9:12 am
#8 superBul: well mate not sure but if we look at the team of the sharks it would probably be like this
15 Stefan
14 odwa
13 adi
12 steyn
11 jpp
10 fred
09 ruan
08 kanko
07 deysel
06 botes
05 muller
04 hargreaves
03 jannie
02 bismark
01 beast
16 smitty
17 carstens
18 albert
19 daniel
20 rory cockott
21 murray
22 barritt
that makes 11 boks in starting line up with 3 on the bench and 1 junior bok in starting line up and 3 jumior boks on bench
12 sharks_lover Report comment
September 24th, 2008 at 9:13 am
that means 18 out of 22 have had bok colours
13 sharks_lover
September 24th, 2008 at 9:15 am
well 1 is a fully fledged international too in freddy so only 3 havent tasted the international arena in cockott , deysel and botes
15 sharks_lover
September 24th, 2008 at 9:20 am
2 really good players i havent mentioned in that sharks 22 is sykes and cilliers
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 15) : I thik we want to avoid another Steyn issue.
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : dude – why do all your comments go into moderation over there? Don’t they like you? 😉
damn good squad that
lol bro @robdylan (Comment 18) :
@Baldrick (Comment 17) : agree
@robdylan (Comment 18) : most days and a lot of people complaining about the system there putting good chat into moderation
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : keegan daniel ain’t a Bok
@robdylan (Comment 18) : and as a staunch sharks supporter they prolly dont like me lol
@robdylan (Comment 23) : he was junior bok and thats what i had him as
he was the under 21 player of the tourny in the juniors world cup
@sharks_lover (Comment 22) : well, let’s be honest. It’s a pretty kak site all round 😉
murray played in the same team as keegan
only diffs is murray made the senior bok side too
keegan till now hasnt
infact the mistake i made was saying our bench has 3 boks and 3 junior boks
its 4 boks and 2 junior boks
Howzit Guys, Getting ready for a braai but no rugby 👿
Anyone planning a tour from Durbs to Jozi this weekend and have space for the handsom guy on the left.
junior boks daniel(under 19 and under 21 boks ) and barritt ( barritt emerging boks )
@Ernie (Comment 29) : I’m sure there must be someone…
@robdylan (Comment 31) : lol bro you checked up the facts on keegan yet ??
@sharks_lover (Comment 32) : I know the facts… fact is, he isn’t a Bok
@robdylan (Comment 33) : he is a junior bok and thats what i had him as
under 21’s still wear bok colours
There have been 100s of junior Boks that never made the seniors, it’s not really a strong indicator. Just as playing for your 1st team at school doesn’t mean you are going to make it big. (Butch didn’t make Craven Week at school but look where he went).
@Baldrick (Comment 35) : baldrick that is not the point i was asked how many sharks players are boks
that is the question i answered
in my selection of boks i never had daniels as a bok but junior bok
so he is not included as a bok in the count
my point to rob is purely that i didnt add daniel into my bok count no’s
he is in the junior bok count , surely that cant be so hard to understand
@sharks_lover (Comment 34) :
Don’t confuse the Emerging Boks with a Junior Bok side. It is official
that no BOK is allowed to play for the Emerging Boks so we can’t really call that a Junior Bok side.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) : barritt was an emerging bok as i posted #30
daniel a junior bok
i put them as junior boks purely to point out they didnt make the main bok team 🙄
@sharks_lover (Comment 39) :
Okay I see what you mean. We see Junior Boks as different things.
I see the Junior Boks as an SA “A” side and you see them as the U/21’s.
Clear to me now.
15 Stefan (bok)
14 odwa (bok)
13 adi (bok)
12 steyn (bok)
11 jpp (bok)
10 fred (interntional)
09 ruan (bok)
08 kanko (bok)
07 deysel
06 botes
05 muller (bok)
04 hargreaves (under19&21 bok)
03 jannie (bok)
02 bismark (bok)
01 beast (bok)
16 smitty (bok)
17 carstens (bok)
18 albert (bok)
19 daniel (under19&21 bok )
20 rory cockott
21 murray (bok)
22 barritt (emerging bok)
it still gives me the same about of boks as i wioted in the very first place
15 boks
3 junior level boks
1 emerging bok
1 international
same score of what i pointed out to the person on keo
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) : 😉 cool bro i was purely pointing out players that have played in green and gold
in one form or another , but i did showed out the fully fledged boks to be 15
what i didnt tell them is cockott deysel and botes should be boks too lol
and cilliers prolly will too
not sure if sykes is up there
and just to add spice 3 of the sharks players have captained the boks in one form or another lol
@sharks_lover (Comment 43) : Run that by me again. 😉 😆
and lastyly ksa bro i couldnt get to technical in explaining this to a bulls supporter , about SA A etc
they would never understand lol
SL – what point are you actually trying to prove? I’ve got a bit lost 😉
@McLovin (Comment 46) : lol hell no
tired typig fingers now
@robdylan (Comment 48) : 😆
scroll up and read all again lol
itll help 😉
anyhows im off to go do shopping with wife , you guys have a good one chat later ciao
I think it may have been easier to just say only three have NOT represented their country at some level.
😛
@sharks_lover (Comment 51) :
it’s BRAAI day not shopping day.!!!!!!
Sharks Close to Full-StrengthWednesday, September 24, 2008 – 12:12
Having played two massive games – against the Bulls and Cheetahs – which would have required a huge mental effort from the Sharks to achieve the results they did, Coach John Plumtree admitted that perhaps the players weren’t at the same level for the Valke game last Saturday.
“I think the boys were down mentally against the Valke,” he said. “They also had a real challenge with the conditions, it was a tough ground with a big cross wind so these weren’t the most pleasant conditions to play in, but I was happy with some of the tries we scored and we got the job done.
“But in terms of standards, we didn’t quite get there.”
With the Sharks choosing to rest some players and give any with minor niggles the weekend off, there was a break in continuity and the Coach doesn’t feel that there is any cause for concern. “You can’t read too much into that game,” he explained.
“We had a big fortnight with the Bulls and Cheetahs at home and having a game like that away was always going to be difficult for the boys to get up there, but this weekend is totally different.”
He admitted that with the top five sides all pushing hard for semi and final spots, or home semis, “since we’ve got ourselves into a good position, we don’t want to relinquish it.”
There are going to be a number of personnel changes for the must-win Lions game on Saturday, victory almost certainly assuring the Sharks of finishing the round stages in top spot, primed to play at home in the play-offs but the Coach has high regard for this weekend’s opposition.
“We have a lot of respect for the Lions, they are a good side and have done well, we have to make sure we go up there and be accurate as possible in everything we do and the intensity has got to be there because there is a lot to play for. The result could be decided by who wants it more on the day.”
In expected changes, front rowers Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira (pictured) are both available while amongst the backs, Odwa Ndungane and Stefan Terblanche return to the training pitch to push for inclusion. Deon Carstens (calf injury) is the only player not assured of being selected and he will be monitored through the week.
The team will be named on Thursday.
@sharks_lover (Comment 5) : No we weren’t arguing. I posted last night and you came in this morning only.
@Loosehead (Comment 55) : howzit dude.
@Loosehead (Comment 55) : same thing
still proving you wrong lol
@Loosehead (Comment 55) : atleast we got you to come to a decent site lol
Howzit Sharkies. As it happens I will be in Deben for the semi final weekend. There might even be time to fit in a trip to Kings Park, depending on who the Sharks are playing.
@Loosehead (Comment 59) : sounds like fun… wish I could be there
@robdylan (Comment 60) : Do you not live in KZN?
@Loosehead (Comment 61) :
Only in the sense that KZN is the last outpost of the country where he lives. 🙂
Rob lives in the UK.
@Loosehead (Comment 61) : I wish I lived in KZN 🙂 I’m kind of a remote fanatic