RUAN PIENAAR DOESN’T have too long before he returns to the grind with Ulster, meaning he is soaking up every minute of his third World Cup experience with glee.
The scrum-half is expected back at his province the Monday morning after South Africa’s involvement in the World Cup ends, whether that fixture is the final or a third-place play-off.
Ruan Pienaar swaps jerseys with Tim Nanai-Williams after the clash with Samoa. Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
Pienaar only has to look around the changing room on Saturday before the semi-final against New Zealand at Twickenham to appreciate how fortunate he and his teammates are to be playing on this stage.
Some more than others.
Two years ago, the inspirational Schalk Burger had a brush with death due to bacterial meningitis. The 32-year-old fought for his life and is now on the brink of playing in a second World Cup final.
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Burger has been in superb form for the Boks all year, including at this World Cup, providing a complete skill set no matter which back row position he occupies. He starts in the number seven shirt this weekend and Pienaar believes there is more of the same to come.
I was in South Africa at the time and all his family and friends said he was close to dying, and for him to make a comeback like he has done is unbelievable, and the way he is playing now is unbelievable,” says Pienaar.
“I think he’s probably changed the way he’s played in the last couple of years. I think he’s a really good ball distributor and he creates a lot for us. He’s just got a never-say-die attitude. He just flies into everything.
“He’s probably one of the hardest guys I know. Even in defence and attack he just throws everything into it and to see him in this form is obviously great for us and I guess sometimes scary for the opposition.”
The Boks came through last weekend's quarter-final against Wales. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“He’s a really great guy, so laidback off the pitch, but once he crosses those four lines he becomes an animal. He’s been really, really outstanding for us in this World Cup and one of our key players in the team. To see him play like that is really important for us.”
Now playing in his fourth World Cup, Burger serves as an inspiration for the rest of the Boks squad, a reminder of the resilience they will need to show this weekend against the number one side in the world.
Pienaar’s World Cup started in disastrous fashion as he wore the nine shirt for the defeat to Japan, before he featured off the bench against Samoa and Scotland. He plays back-up to Fourie du Preez again this weekend.
It couldn’t have been a worse start,” says Pienaar. “We have got our momentum back. We have been tested and every week has been like a play-off for us. If we lost one more game we would have gone home.”
Indeed, the fact that the Boks have been in knock-out mode since that opening failure might well be an advantage against the Kiwis on Saturday, their appetite for clinging on being that little bit more tuned in than a side who smashed the French last weekend.
Pienaar claims he is surprised not to see any Northern Hemisphere sides in the semi-finals, and says he has some sympathy for his Irish friends.
Pienaar is back-up to Fourie du Preez this weekend. Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
“I think we always expected to see two or three Northern Hemisphere teams to be involved,” says Pienaar. “Obviously for me, playing with a lot of the Irish guys and seeing how they’ve progressed and how well they’ve played the last couple of months, it’s almost sad for me not to see them in the semi-finals.
“I am surprised not to see anyone but I think Argentina and Australia have been the two form sides in the pool stages and then the way New Zealand performed last weekend, they’re always right up there.
I think everyone said this was going to be the most closely-contested World Cup and I think it’s probably been that. Although there are no Northern Hemisphere teams, the way Scotland played and the way Wales played with a lot of guys injured I think you’ve got to take your hat off to them.”
Where did it all go wrong for Ireland, Ruan? The Ulsterman – who along with Zane Kirchner is the only Irish province-contracted player still in the World Cup – points to the injuries and suspension of key players.
“World Cups are funny things,” says the experienced halfback. “They are all one-off games, every one like a play-off. For Ireland to lose Paul (O’Connell), and Peter (O’Mahony) and Johnny (Sexton), they are three key players. With Sean O’Brien banned, those are four really big players.
“As I said, with Argentina as one of the form sides, you were always going to be up against it. It has been interesting to watch it unfold. Now with these four teams anyone can win it on the day.”
Burger's brush with death an inspiration to Ulsterman Pienaar at RWC
Murray Kinsella reports from London
RUAN PIENAAR DOESN’T have too long before he returns to the grind with Ulster, meaning he is soaking up every minute of his third World Cup experience with glee.
The scrum-half is expected back at his province the Monday morning after South Africa’s involvement in the World Cup ends, whether that fixture is the final or a third-place play-off.
Pienaar only has to look around the changing room on Saturday before the semi-final against New Zealand at Twickenham to appreciate how fortunate he and his teammates are to be playing on this stage.
Some more than others.
Two years ago, the inspirational Schalk Burger had a brush with death due to bacterial meningitis. The 32-year-old fought for his life and is now on the brink of playing in a second World Cup final.
Burger has been in superb form for the Boks all year, including at this World Cup, providing a complete skill set no matter which back row position he occupies. He starts in the number seven shirt this weekend and Pienaar believes there is more of the same to come.
“I think he’s probably changed the way he’s played in the last couple of years. I think he’s a really good ball distributor and he creates a lot for us. He’s just got a never-say-die attitude. He just flies into everything.
“He’s probably one of the hardest guys I know. Even in defence and attack he just throws everything into it and to see him in this form is obviously great for us and I guess sometimes scary for the opposition.”
“He’s a really great guy, so laidback off the pitch, but once he crosses those four lines he becomes an animal. He’s been really, really outstanding for us in this World Cup and one of our key players in the team. To see him play like that is really important for us.”
Now playing in his fourth World Cup, Burger serves as an inspiration for the rest of the Boks squad, a reminder of the resilience they will need to show this weekend against the number one side in the world.
Pienaar’s World Cup started in disastrous fashion as he wore the nine shirt for the defeat to Japan, before he featured off the bench against Samoa and Scotland. He plays back-up to Fourie du Preez again this weekend.
Indeed, the fact that the Boks have been in knock-out mode since that opening failure might well be an advantage against the Kiwis on Saturday, their appetite for clinging on being that little bit more tuned in than a side who smashed the French last weekend.
Pienaar claims he is surprised not to see any Northern Hemisphere sides in the semi-finals, and says he has some sympathy for his Irish friends.
“I think we always expected to see two or three Northern Hemisphere teams to be involved,” says Pienaar. “Obviously for me, playing with a lot of the Irish guys and seeing how they’ve progressed and how well they’ve played the last couple of months, it’s almost sad for me not to see them in the semi-finals.
“I am surprised not to see anyone but I think Argentina and Australia have been the two form sides in the pool stages and then the way New Zealand performed last weekend, they’re always right up there.
Where did it all go wrong for Ireland, Ruan? The Ulsterman – who along with Zane Kirchner is the only Irish province-contracted player still in the World Cup – points to the injuries and suspension of key players.
“World Cups are funny things,” says the experienced halfback. “They are all one-off games, every one like a play-off. For Ireland to lose Paul (O’Connell), and Peter (O’Mahony) and Johnny (Sexton), they are three key players. With Sean O’Brien banned, those are four really big players.
“As I said, with Argentina as one of the form sides, you were always going to be up against it. It has been interesting to watch it unfold. Now with these four teams anyone can win it on the day.”
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