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Cape Town - Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar has admitted that he must improve his form if the wants to keep his place in the starting XV.
Pienaar was heavily criticised by pundits and fans after his poor showing in South Africa's last Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Mendoza a fortnight ago.
His tactical kicking was below par in a Test and the Boks were perhaps somewhat fortunate to win 22-17.
Pienaar told Die Burger's website that he wasn't at all impressed with his showing that day, and is eager to improve.
He admitted he has to kick better out of hand in Saturday's Test against Australia at the Suncorp Stadium to a Wallaby backline which features some talented playmakers in fullback Israel Folau, wings James O'Connor and Nick Cummins, and flyhalf Quade Cooper.
He acknowledged that the Australian back three is "dangerous" and that "you don't want to give them space to run in".
Kick-off is at 12:05 (SA time) on Saturday.
Teams:
Australia:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Adam-Ashley Cooper, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper
Substitutes: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Jesse Mogg
South Africa:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Juandré Kruger, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
Pienaar was heavily criticised by pundits and fans after his poor showing in South Africa's last Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Mendoza a fortnight ago.
His tactical kicking was below par in a Test and the Boks were perhaps somewhat fortunate to win 22-17.
Pienaar told Die Burger's website that he wasn't at all impressed with his showing that day, and is eager to improve.
He admitted he has to kick better out of hand in Saturday's Test against Australia at the Suncorp Stadium to a Wallaby backline which features some talented playmakers in fullback Israel Folau, wings James O'Connor and Nick Cummins, and flyhalf Quade Cooper.
He acknowledged that the Australian back three is "dangerous" and that "you don't want to give them space to run in".
Kick-off is at 12:05 (SA time) on Saturday.
Teams:
Australia:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Adam-Ashley Cooper, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper
Substitutes: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Jake Schatz, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Jesse Mogg
South Africa:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Juandré Kruger, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
