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What's the deal with Ruan Pienaar?
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<blockquote data-quote="rugbywriter" data-source="post: 321571" data-attributes="member: 42104"><p>I've been a bit upset by some of the recent posts I've read. Anyone who watched that France game will probably agree that Kirchner is nowhere near international quality, but now why are so many people saying that Ruan Pienaar must be fullback?</p><p></p><p>What is it about this guy that makes everyone demand that he be in the team? Never has a player been so over-rated. I just don't understand what people see in him. </p><p></p><p>I'm not saying he's completely useless, but some guys make out like he's the Jesus of rugby. Let's look at where we stand with Pienaar:</p><p></p><p>A while ago, in about 2006/07, lots of people were saying that he is better the Fourie du Preez. That got disproven very quickly.</p><p></p><p>People then started saying that he is deffinitely next-best to du Preez. Then came Jano Vermaak, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Rory Kockott and Sarel Pretorious. People who are not lying to themselves will agree that Pienaar is now not the second best scrumhalf in the country.</p><p></p><p>Then because Pienaar wasn't a good enough scrumhalf to make the team, they decided to try him at fly-half because for some reason, Pienaar just has to make the team. The Pienaar at fly-half saga was and still is an utter failure and there is no evidence that points to the contrary. Even in his hometown of Durban in that test against the B&I Lions, the crowd were chanting for Morne to replace him.</p><p></p><p>Since it had been proven that he's not a good enough scrum half or fly-half to make the Boks, everyone said to give him a go at fullback, because Pienaar just has to make the team. The game that PIenaar played fullback in last year's tri-nations was the only game in the tri-nations that the Boks lost. I'm not at all saying that it is because of him, but he did play very badly and didn't do anything to help save the game for the Boks, which is what so many people say he does.</p><p></p><p>Now that it is realised by most that Kirchner is not an international-standard fullback, the "put Pienaar at fullback" episode has started up again. Despite having Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon, Riaan Viljoen, Louis Ludik (when fit) at our disposal, people want to put Ruan Pienaar in there. Does Pienaar have the amazing boot or crash ball prowess like Frans Steyn? Does he have the sweet running skills of Viljoen or Aplon? Look at Viljoen's long-distance try against the Sharks in the Super14 (which ironically, Pienaar was one of the defenders who tried to tackle Viljoen but couldn't even get a hand on him) or Aplons tries against France. Would Pienaar ever in his life pull that off? Look at even Louis Ludik when fit. He hardly ever makes a mistake, has a pin-point accurate boot and tremendous speed. Pienaar is nowhere near our best or second best fullback.</p><p></p><p>Let's sum-up:</p><p></p><p>He's not our second best scrumhalf</p><p></p><p>He's not our second best flyhalf</p><p></p><p>He's not our second best fullback</p><p></p><p>Why oh why is it so important that he be in the team or on the bench? Guys like Sarel Pretorious and Dewaldt Duvenhage have to miss out despite constantly performing much better. The same thing goes for guys like Peter Grant, Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon (Although he'll probably be a wing mostly) etc. Come on guys, we've got better players. Let's just get over this obsession with this guy.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rugbywriter, post: 321571, member: 42104"] I've been a bit upset by some of the recent posts I've read. Anyone who watched that France game will probably agree that Kirchner is nowhere near international quality, but now why are so many people saying that Ruan Pienaar must be fullback? What is it about this guy that makes everyone demand that he be in the team? Never has a player been so over-rated. I just don't understand what people see in him. I'm not saying he's completely useless, but some guys make out like he's the Jesus of rugby. Let's look at where we stand with Pienaar: A while ago, in about 2006/07, lots of people were saying that he is better the Fourie du Preez. That got disproven very quickly. People then started saying that he is deffinitely next-best to du Preez. Then came Jano Vermaak, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Rory Kockott and Sarel Pretorious. People who are not lying to themselves will agree that Pienaar is now not the second best scrumhalf in the country. Then because Pienaar wasn't a good enough scrumhalf to make the team, they decided to try him at fly-half because for some reason, Pienaar just has to make the team. The Pienaar at fly-half saga was and still is an utter failure and there is no evidence that points to the contrary. Even in his hometown of Durban in that test against the B&I Lions, the crowd were chanting for Morne to replace him. Since it had been proven that he's not a good enough scrum half or fly-half to make the Boks, everyone said to give him a go at fullback, because Pienaar just has to make the team. The game that PIenaar played fullback in last year's tri-nations was the only game in the tri-nations that the Boks lost. I'm not at all saying that it is because of him, but he did play very badly and didn't do anything to help save the game for the Boks, which is what so many people say he does. Now that it is realised by most that Kirchner is not an international-standard fullback, the "put Pienaar at fullback" episode has started up again. Despite having Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon, Riaan Viljoen, Louis Ludik (when fit) at our disposal, people want to put Ruan Pienaar in there. Does Pienaar have the amazing boot or crash ball prowess like Frans Steyn? Does he have the sweet running skills of Viljoen or Aplon? Look at Viljoen's long-distance try against the Sharks in the Super14 (which ironically, Pienaar was one of the defenders who tried to tackle Viljoen but couldn't even get a hand on him) or Aplons tries against France. Would Pienaar ever in his life pull that off? Look at even Louis Ludik when fit. He hardly ever makes a mistake, has a pin-point accurate boot and tremendous speed. Pienaar is nowhere near our best or second best fullback. Let's sum-up: He's not our second best scrumhalf He's not our second best flyhalf He's not our second best fullback Why oh why is it so important that he be in the team or on the bench? Guys like Sarel Pretorious and Dewaldt Duvenhage have to miss out despite constantly performing much better. The same thing goes for guys like Peter Grant, Frans Steyn, Gio Aplon (Although he'll probably be a wing mostly) etc. Come on guys, we've got better players. Let's just get over this obsession with this guy. [/QUOTE]
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What's the deal with Ruan Pienaar?
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