ULSTER RUAN PIENAARThe scrumhalf, who has finally nailed down his true position, has been pivotal to Ulster's march to the final, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY
“The test for Ulster and for Pienaar will be on May 19th when they won’t be going forward against Leinster.”
Michael Bradley, Edinburgh coach with 40 caps for Ireland at scrumhalf
YOU COULD understand if Ruan Pienaar felt “utility” was a dirty word. At least now, finally, in Ulster he is a scrumhalf, only occasionally switched to outhalf.
His ability to shift right across the backline has certainly hindered a Springbok career which at just 28 may already be over. Or maybe his outstandingly consistent form of late will provoke a recall from new coach Heyneke Meyer.
The presence of one of South Africa’s greatest ever scrumhalves, Fourie du Preez, along with the brutish first five-eighth Butch James and, since 2009, the freakish kicking android that is Morne Steyn, made Pienaar a valuable commodity as an international replacement. Of his 51 Test caps, 30 are from the bench.
His first cap was at fullback against New Zealand in 2006. No problems there; his father Gysie Pienaar played 13 times at 15 in the narrow 1980-81 international window, including twice against a touring Ireland side.
Ruan is an updated prototype of Gysie; three inches taller at 6ft 3ins and over 20lb heavier.
“Physically he is a very tall, lean man. He is strong, he has fantastic touches around the park,” said Bradley after Pienaar’s “stunning” exhibition of game management and ruthlessness off the tee that marched Ulster past Edinburgh and into their first Heineken Cup final since 1999.
Pienaar was on the cusp of legendary status at home when selected for the Lions series in 2009 at outhalf. He delivered in the first Test, posting 13 points before making way for Steyn but an uncertain opening in the second Test at Loftus Versfeld saw him hauled off with Steyn arriving to become the hero. Thereafter, Ruan was shifted around the house playing fullback, scrumhalf, 10, centre and even wing.
“Too many players’ careers have been ruined because they were picked out of their specialist position,” said Gysie this week, when speaking about the next Springbok fullback.
It is as a Natal Shark, however, Pienaar’s legendary status in South Africa is already cemented. Spotted by former Terenure College RFC coach Kevin Putt at “Craven Week” (a renowned schoolboy tournament) in 2002, come the 2008 Currie Cup final he was the chief engineer in the 14-9 victory over the favoured Blue Bulls, scoring an early try with an audacious dummy.
When David Humphreys went in search of a play-maker and place-kicker to build an Ulster squad around, Pienaar was signed on a lucrative two-year contract that left the Ulster public and media grumbling. They understand now. “I remember at the start of his tenure in Ulster they were giving him a tough time because things weren’t working out and they weren’t winning every match but you could see the quality was there,” Bradley adds. “The rest took a while to read what he was doing. He is a very dangerous rugby player, never mind kicker. He oozes confidence.”
A big debate in Ulster, right up until Munster were defeated at Thomond Park last month, was whether Pienaar could be better utilised at 10, rather than nine. The argument being mainly about getting Paul Marshall on the field for big games. “Paul has been one of our stand-out players this season,” said Pienaar. “He has really played well but any side, just look at Leinster, they can probably field two or three teams, so I think it is great to have that competition. It keeps you on your toes.”
An interview with him is much like interviewing a veteran army officer. Straight, polite but rigid. Just another duty he performs with that calm demeanour. The South African contingent came to Ulster to win the Heineken Cup, nothing else interests them.
“We haven’t achieved anything yet but the future looks bright for Ulster rugby. We are trying our best to add to the culture. David Humphreys and Shane Logan deserve a lot of credit; I think we are heading in the right direction but there is still a lot of work to do, a lot of improvements still to be made.”
And what of the expected lack of space to be afforded by the Leinster pack?
“Leinster are kings at the moment of the breakdown, really competing, not only their forwards but guys like Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy are brilliant at the breakdown, so that’s a key area for us.”
It is up to Messrs Muller, Ferris and company to shift the rumble from the path. If they can do that then Pienaar will navigate the Ulster ship to victory.
