Pienaar boots Ulster to victory
20 Feb 2011
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the South Africans who impressed in the European leagues over the weekend.
Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar kicked six penalties from six attempts to secure Ulster a 18-16 victory over the Scarlets in Llanelli. In a rain-affected game, the Scarlets were leading 16-9 at half-time and were holding on at 16-15 in the dying seconds, but Pienaar clinched the win for the visitors with an injury-time penalty. The victory keeps Ulster in play-off contention in the Magners League.
In other results, prop Wian du Preez’s Munster picked up a 23-13 win over Edinburgh to stay on top of the log while hooker Richardt Strauss’ Leinster suffered a 11-3 away defeat against the Cardiff Blues.
In the French Top 14, No 8 Jacques Cronje scored a try in Racing Metro’s 32-14 win over La Rochelle. Frans Steyn started at fullback for Racing, who are now second on the log.
Centre Ronnie Cook and No 8 Antonie Claassen featured in Brive’s 26-15 crucial home win over Stade Francais. Scrumhalf Noel Oelschig and prop Rayno Gerber came off the bench for the visitors.
Centre Marius Joubert started in Clermont’s 24-19 win over wing Sam Gerber’s Bayonne. Speedster Brent Russell featured in the second stanza for Clermont but Bayonne fullback Joe Pietersen warmed the bench for the entire game.
Flyhalf Conrad Barnard, prop Gert Muller, lock Dewald Senekal and flankers Adri Badenhorst and Hendro Scholtz helped Agen to an important 23-16 win over Toulon, while prop Daan Human and No 8 Shaun Sowerby came off the bench in log leaders Toulouse’s 23-19 win over Barritz.
In England, centre Brad Barrit crossed the chalk in Saracens’ 39-0 thrashing of flanker Hendre Fourie’s Leeds. Loose forwards Justin Melck and Ersnt Joubert also played key roles for Sarries while Neil de Kock and Schalk Brits came on early in the second half. The victory sees Sarries trail Leicester by five log points in the standings.
Flank Luke Watson, flyhalf Butch James and scrumhalf Michael Claassens starred in Bath’s 38-8 victory over prop Brian Mujati’s Northamption Saints. Gcobani Bobo started at wing in Newcastle’s 23-13 loss against the Exeter Chiefs.
11 Comments
20 Feb 2011, 19:29 pm
Two dragons in one day?
20 Feb 2011, 19:46 pm
It’s interesting to see Joe Pietersen not getting any game time. I always felt he owed WP more than he gave after faffing around the fringes for a number of years, and as soon as he hits a purple patch he turns his back on the union that gave him any number of opportunities to prove himself.
Put simply, he shouldn’t have been allowed to leave, especially when he was playing well. But I suppose if WP are stupid enough to release him and he has no sense of loyalty to the union who stuck by him, then what can you do?
But hey, ain’t karma a ******.
Good round up by the way Gareth. One of these every week would be nice.
20 Feb 2011, 20:24 pm
thats a big win for bath, northampton were looking good at the start of the season.
20 Feb 2011, 21:24 pm
I thought the game management by Butch and Claassens was outstanding, it was dominant without excessive showing,
Luke was huge too without trying anything spectacular, he seemed to work well with Simon Taylor, seemingly two undersized loosies whose sum is greater than the integer. They just need a big blind side flanker to complemete.
20 Feb 2011, 21:26 pm
I remember in 2006 when Stransky said of Pienaar: “there is nothing this man can’t do”
20 Feb 2011, 22:20 pm
Saw Pienaars great long range kick in the dying minutes…….excellent, however I still think this guy in mentaly fragile
20 Feb 2011, 22:24 pm
Whats with all the beards these days? Have I missed a “movember” type thing or is this just a return of the caveman?
20 Feb 2011, 23:00 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-2: You know Jock, With Joe just snubbing WP/Stormers. I do feel Stormers are best without him. A franchise at this stage only want the players that are loyal. So really you are not loss without him.
20 Feb 2011, 23:05 pm
@Puma(Puma)-8: loss = lossed@whatever(whatever)-7: Have no idea, but Strauss for Lions was surperb, beard or no beard. Had no idea how good this player was. Just to show how much us supporters know hey!!
20 Feb 2011, 23:10 pm
Good for Ruan, just can’t see him back in the Bok squad.
Great player I feel, probably going to waste not playing the S15.
Don’t rate the NH games as much. Ruan should only have gone up north after the wc. Pity cause I think he had plenty talent.
21 Feb 2011, 04:25 am
The European stint for some players is good. A nice reality check to their super star status they have back home.
Pienaar and others will come back better players.
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