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Cape Town - Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn says having Ruan Pienaar as halfback partner - and not Fourie du Preez - wouldn't put any added pressure on him when they tackle France on Saturday.
Pienaar returns to the No 9 jersey following Fourie du Preez’s slightly curveball release from the squad, with Jano Vermaak added to the bench.
Du Preez has proved in recent games that he is a class above the rest of the world's scrumhalves, with his superior tactical game giving the Boks an extra edge.
But Steyn believes Pienaar is equally astute on the tactical front and doesn't foresee any problems on Saturday night.
"Ruan counts among the world's best scrumhalves. His and Fourie's qualities are very similar. It will take pressure off my shoulders and he is used to these conditions due to his Irish connection (Pienaar plays for Urish club Ulster)," Steyn told Die Burger's website.
Steyn, who plays for local Paris club Stade Francais, said he is thoroughly enjoying his stay there with the supporters very passionate about the game.
However, he predicted something different from them this weekend. "The whole crowd will probably be against me! But hopefully there's a nice atmosphere. I'm really looking forward to it," said Steyn.
Kick-off at the Stade de France is at 22:00 (SA time) on Saturday.
Teams:
France:
TBA
South Africa:
15 Willie le Roux: 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 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 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Siya Kolisi 22 Jano Vermaak, 23 Patrick Lambie
Pienaar returns to the No 9 jersey following Fourie du Preez’s slightly curveball release from the squad, with Jano Vermaak added to the bench.
Du Preez has proved in recent games that he is a class above the rest of the world's scrumhalves, with his superior tactical game giving the Boks an extra edge.
But Steyn believes Pienaar is equally astute on the tactical front and doesn't foresee any problems on Saturday night.
"Ruan counts among the world's best scrumhalves. His and Fourie's qualities are very similar. It will take pressure off my shoulders and he is used to these conditions due to his Irish connection (Pienaar plays for Urish club Ulster)," Steyn told Die Burger's website.
Steyn, who plays for local Paris club Stade Francais, said he is thoroughly enjoying his stay there with the supporters very passionate about the game.
However, he predicted something different from them this weekend. "The whole crowd will probably be against me! But hopefully there's a nice atmosphere. I'm really looking forward to it," said Steyn.
Kick-off at the Stade de France is at 22:00 (SA time) on Saturday.
Teams:
France:
TBA
South Africa:
15 Willie le Roux: 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 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 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Siya Kolisi 22 Jano Vermaak, 23 Patrick Lambie
