Pienaar boots Ulster to Euro final
28 Apr 2012
Ruan Pienaar kicked 17 points in Ulster’s 22-19 victory over Edinburgh to help guide his side to the European Cup final.
Pienaar’s goal-kicking was criticised when he was asked to do the job at Test level but he has become Ulster’s go-to man in the biggest games, kicking consistently accurately. Furthermore his all-round play was outstanding. With so much talk about Fourie du Preez’s return to the Test fold, we have forgotten about the gem we have in the former Sharks man. Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer would do well to include him in his squad for the England series.
Edinburgh dominated large potions of the first half and will lament their inability to take advantage of Stefan Terblanche’s sin binning. Ulster’s defence in light of their disadvantage was inspiring but Edinburgh will look back with regret on fundamental handling errors and poor decision making in the red zone.
Ruan Pienaar opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty but Greig Laidlaw nailed two of his own to send the visitors ahead. But Pedrie Wannenburg crossed to chalk for the Irish side after a period of sustained pressure and Pienaar converted then added a penalty for a comfortable lead.
Edinburgh were roused to respond and did so with Laidlaw landing two three pointers either side of the break. The return was acceptable but the Scots would have known they missed a golden opportunity with Terblanche sidelined.
But Ulster found another gear and Edinburgh simply could not counter the pressure they were able to create through their erosive phase play and powerful scrummaging. Pienaar drilled three kicks through the poles for a 19-12 lead. Edinburgh became increasingly expansive as the match progressed. But Ulster were accurate, brutal and patient in defence and never looked like being breached. Pienaar kicked his fifth penalty of the afternoon with four minutes to spare to seal a memorable victory and a trip to Twickenham.
8 Comments
28 Apr 2012, 20:53 pm
Got Man of the Match Pienaar. And old Pedrie Wannenburg has some life in his old legs as well.
28 Apr 2012, 21:05 pm
His goal kicking has improved beyond recognition. Well done to the kicking coach at Ulster. Not sure that matters for a Bok scrumhalf though.
This may sound fanciful, but Ulster have actually adapted their game to suit Pienaar who naturally plays as something between a scrumhalf and flyhalf. I don’t think the Ulster flyhalf was asked to do anything today – Ruan did all his work for him.
He’s a top class player, but he’s benefitting by being away from SA and not under such an intense spotlight. I still have questions about his BMT in Springbok tests.
28 Apr 2012, 21:50 pm
Pienaar`s performance was the best scrumhalf display the last 5 years in all competitions by any scrumhalf. Only bettered by Fourie du Preez in the 2007 Wcup.
28 Apr 2012, 22:15 pm
@sandeno(sandeno)-3: I watched the game. I thought he played very well. But he did not play that well.
In my humble opinion at least.
28 Apr 2012, 22:42 pm
He’s been a solid player for Ulster, Watched the game and he played well, thought he played even better in the victory over the more fancied Munster on Munster soil.
Hougaard, FdP and Pienaar… Great trio to have with two of them really as utility backline players.
29 Apr 2012, 12:37 pm
Overreacting much Sandeno? Keo should really do more to ensure that the players’ wives and/or girlfriends dont post here…
29 Apr 2012, 14:16 pm
@thesaint(thesaint)-6:
lol
30 Apr 2012, 03:51 am
I thought his performance in the 2010 EYOT was the best I saw
of ANY Boks scrummie in a Test played outside SA.
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