Springboks halfback Ruan Pienaar hasn’t started a Test match since last year’s Tri Nations but says he’s ready to handle the wrath of frustrated Wallabies captain Will Genia in Saturday night’s must-win Rugby Championship clash in Perth.
The vastly experienced and versatile Pienaar, once likened by former South Africa coach Jake White to Australian champion Stephen Larkham, believes he’s got Saturday’s toughest assignment going head-to-head with Genia.
Pienaar is wary of a fired-up Australian skipper, who he says will have a point to prove after two quiet performances playing behind a struggling pack against New Zealand.
The Wallabies star No.9 was shut down mercilessly by the All Blacks in Australia’s last-start thrashing at Eden Park and was crucially yellow-carded in the first half for an uncharacteristic moment of ill-discipline.
In the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney on August 18, Genia’s dangerous running game was also well contained, poking his head through the New Zealand defensive line only once.
Pienaar has been recalled to the Springboks run-on side to accommodate for Francois Hougaard’s move to the wing, and says he wants to aim-up against the best.
“Will’s probably the most important guy in the Australian side so it’s a big challenge for me, but I think that’s why you play rugby to play against the best guys and hopefully I can do a proper job,” Pienaar told AAP.
“Obviously for me he’s probably the best nine in world rugby for a couple of seasons now and he’s a player who can create something out of nothing.
“I think the whole Australian team will be keen to do well (after back-to-back losses to New Zealand) and we didn’t get what we wanted out of those two Argentina games (one loss and a draw) … so it’s going to be an interesting game and a tough game.”
Pienaar’s array of skills have seen him play fullback, five-eighth and halfback for his country – and the 28-year-old suggested he and Hougaard could even work in tandem at the scrum base on Saturday.
With the All Blacks setting a rapid pace at the top of the Championship, Pienaar says victory on Saturday is necessary for the out-of-sorts Springboks and Wallabies if they wish to stay in touch with the world champions.
“It’s a must-win for both teams and for us travelling over here it’s a big challenge playing in Perth,” said Pienaar.
“Both of us are under a bit of pressure and want to perform well and build momentum going forward in this competition.”
South Africa will assume Australia’s No.2 world ranking if they snap a four-match losing streak against the Wallabies on Saturday.
