Rugby
Jones's suggestion irks Div
2009-04-23 22:45
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Div opts for Ruan Pienaar (Gallo)
By Stephen Nell - Die Burger
Cape Town – Ruan Pienaar will be South Africa’s goalkicker in the Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
That was the message on Thursday from Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, who was asked about the idea of bringing Percy Montgomery out of retirement for the looming series.
Former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones told Sport24 this week that South Africa should consider asking Montgomery to come out of retirement.
“I can’t understand how a top rugby brain says that,” De Villiers said in his reaction.
“Why is Naas Botha not playing anymore? There is a time to come and a time to go for everyone. I have too much respect for Percy to pick him.
“I can see when a player’s best days are behind him. I’m not going to break down Percy’s image and have people say he should not have been there.
“Percy has not played badly this year. He is just no longer good enough to take us to the next level.
“I pick Ruan (at flyhalf) because he has so many dimensions to his game. One of his attributes is that he can kick and he is really good at that.”
Pienaar kicked well on South Africa’s end-of-season tour and De Villiers believes that was the result of hard work prior to their departure.
“I trust the people around me. If Ruan’s goalkicking is not good enough I will drop him. He has to do the job. That is what he is paid for!”
De Villiers believes Pienaar’s natural talent will help bring the best out of South Africa’s backline. “Ruan is a gifted rugby player. I view him as the Tiger Woods of rugby,” said De Villiers.
“It’s important for him to have the freedom to express himself. If we show confidence him, I think our outside backs will have a chance of penetrating.”
