Ruan rocks again
13 Feb 2006
Sharks coach Dick Muir believes Ruan Pienaar’s best is yet to come.
The Sharks No 9 scored one of the best scrumhalf tries in the history of Super Rugby, when he broke through the Chiefs defence from inside the Sharks half and bamboozled three defenders, including All Black fullback Mils Muliaina, on his way to the tryline. It was remarkably similar to his try that ripped the heart out of the Brumbies’ challenge in last year’s Vodacom Super 12.
“Ruan is a special player who always gives 140%,” said Muir after the game. “This is just a small taste of what he is capable of.”
Muir was delighted to kick the season off with a win, but said his side would have to learn from their mistakes ahead of their game against the Cheetahs in Durban.
“The guys were desperate to start with a win,” he said. “We know there are still a lot of matches left, so we aren’t getting too excited. I was pleased to see how the guys played with courage and recovered from the early set back [when the Chiefs went ahead 7-0].”
The Sharks scored three tries in a commanding first-half display, but couldn’t cross the line again to collect the bonus point. The way the Sharks sat back and defended their lead was a concern to Muir.
“It’s probably because we have so many inexperienced players in the team,” he said. “We should have tried to keep on attacking and run them off their feet.”
Sharks captained AJ Venter confirmed that only JP Pietersen (hamstring tear) and Warren Britz (thigh) were on the casualty list.
“We are in pretty good shape,” he said. “Sure there were a lot of scrapes and scratches that benefited from a good dousing in the salt water, but we are fine and planning and preparing for the Cheetahs started immediately.
“Apart from the physical side of things, the win has obviously done wonders for our confidence and that is a big positive we take into this week.”
21 Comments
13 Feb 2006, 08:16 am
Dragon of note he is!
13 Feb 2006, 08:17 am
This was a great display, if they can build on this with another win against the Cheetahs, they will surly have a better season than last.
13 Feb 2006, 08:20 am
The Sharks really surprised me, I was most impressed with them.
13 Feb 2006, 08:25 am
Well done ****.
Keep it up, so to speak…
13 Feb 2006, 08:36 am
****, I understand you saying that Ruan is a great player, which he is, but how did you come up with the figure 140%?
13 Feb 2006, 08:39 am
if the sharks beat cheetas on weekend it will be as predicted by many a tough season for Cheeta’s. my opnion crucial game and make or brake for them. If sharks win, well when was the last time you saw stats of played 2 and won 2 from them. watching this as to see how this game will influence the rest of these two teams season.
13 Feb 2006, 08:49 am
A brilliant player!
All I know is that no shark fan should ever say a word about Naas or Joost’s accent!
Great game!
13 Feb 2006, 09:16 am
Let’s judge him again after week 6.
The Chiefs are definitely not up there with the Crusaders or Waratahs – Lets see Ruan behind a challenged pack. At least he seems to know what he wants to do with the ball before picking it up unlike our other “top” scrummies (watch out Fourie)
13 Feb 2006, 09:42 am
Just Keep him at 9 not 10,15 or 1. Can WP and Jake please learn from this JdeV is no 10 his a 12 not a 3
13 Feb 2006, 10:40 am
lol tisme, agree. i also picked that up. lol
Oh, by the way, congrats on your team’s win
13 Feb 2006, 10:55 am
Ag neeee….Een mooi breek en nou is klein gysie die antwoord….Ai!!!!! Same thing happened last year….He played one great game…And every game after that was AVERAGE to BELOW AVERAGE….
Ai die “kenners”
13 Feb 2006, 11:17 am
Wie gaan hy lig in die Bok span? Enrico of Fourie? Nie een in my opinie nie. Laat ons maar kyk. Tipes SA. Toe Lukas Van Biljon op die “scene” verskyn het toe was die man ‘n yster. Kyk nou…. maar Ruan het die nodige skills. Ek sal kyk.
13 Feb 2006, 11:28 am
ya, AJ’s still a great player, gives that sharks side so much when he plays.
Jake White’s going to have a headache at 9, this Ruan Pienaar is special, clever player, makes things happen.
13 Feb 2006, 12:13 pm
i think that what the sharks need now is for their injured old dudes to return. these young guys did well, but if they are gonna play week in week out they are gonna suffer.
get brown in, dean hall, jacobs, smit, davidson and i dunno whats happening with butch, hope he can make it.
then you can blood the young dudes and at the same time give them enough rest and protection. it is win win that way.
lets leave ruan to play provincial for now, no need to rush him in. we have good bok incumbant scrummies, it is not a position where we are panicky to get someone to fill. let him mature properly.
13 Feb 2006, 12:20 pm
also, i dont think we should get too excited about my sharkies just yet. i still dont (and never did) think they will be relegated, but i am not saying they are gonna be in the final just yet.
but if you look at the team, i think they are on the up with all these young dudes. in a couple of years i think they will start to bear fruit.
13 Feb 2006, 12:44 pm
Great game. Glad I was there to take it all in. Was definitely worth Sundays hangover : )
13 Feb 2006, 12:59 pm
Replacements for Britz & Pietersen?
13 Feb 2006, 13:43 pm
Nondoda,
Maybe Russell at 15, Ferani at 8, AJ at 7 & Botes at 6…Solly on the bench?
13 Feb 2006, 14:21 pm
Charlie,
I’d go along with that backrow, that Botes has serious gas. Still you cant fault Britz for his workrate.
13 Feb 2006, 14:28 pm
Cab,
You are spot on, he really played well but this is only my suggestion on Nondoda’s question or to make use of the rotation system in resting certain key players…
13 Feb 2006, 15:18 pm
i agree with it, its a helluva pack:
1. Carsens 2. Smit 3. BJ
4. Ackerman 5. Muller
6. Botes 7. AJ
8. Farani
Plenty depth as well with Van den Berg, Tybilika and Gouws.
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