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Rugby Union
The Rugby Championship 2023
Fourie du Preez and SA's no 9
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<blockquote data-quote="Patchey" data-source="post: 587469" data-attributes="member: 61403"><p>Agreed, in part. I also think the role of a player within the team can often be a factor. In this regard I think Ruan is a lot like Piri Weepu.</p><p></p><p>Its been said quite a lot about Weepu that he has always looked his best when he, not whoever is playing at ten, gets to run the show. This was most evident at the 2011 RWC when, after Carter was injured, he was given charge of the backline with first Cruden (not the player he is now) and then Slade outside him. Similarly this season at the Blues with Noakes and Kerr outside him, both young and inexperienced fly halves, he's played much better for having the ability to marshal the game more. No surprise then that Hanson sited Weepu's difficulty in fulfilling the role of a 'second fiddle' nine whose main priority is supplying quick ball to the ten as the reason for dropping him.</p><p></p><p>Pienaar is in the same position at Ulster, where he has much greater license to run the show from the base of the ruck. During Ulster's Heineken Cup run there was a lot of lazy chat in the press about how Pienaar was individually winning them games. While that wasn't strictly speaking true he was in great form, the kind of form he hasn't shown for the Boks where his role is more to provide quick and accurate service to the first receiver. If South Africa keep playing off ten the FdP is a much better option, if they want to get the best out of Pienaar then the emphasis for playmaking is going to have to be shifted to nine. That doesn't seem likely, especially with Steyn playing at fly half.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Patchey, post: 587469, member: 61403"] Agreed, in part. I also think the role of a player within the team can often be a factor. In this regard I think Ruan is a lot like Piri Weepu. Its been said quite a lot about Weepu that he has always looked his best when he, not whoever is playing at ten, gets to run the show. This was most evident at the 2011 RWC when, after Carter was injured, he was given charge of the backline with first Cruden (not the player he is now) and then Slade outside him. Similarly this season at the Blues with Noakes and Kerr outside him, both young and inexperienced fly halves, he's played much better for having the ability to marshal the game more. No surprise then that Hanson sited Weepu's difficulty in fulfilling the role of a 'second fiddle' nine whose main priority is supplying quick ball to the ten as the reason for dropping him. Pienaar is in the same position at Ulster, where he has much greater license to run the show from the base of the ruck. During Ulster's Heineken Cup run there was a lot of lazy chat in the press about how Pienaar was individually winning them games. While that wasn't strictly speaking true he was in great form, the kind of form he hasn't shown for the Boks where his role is more to provide quick and accurate service to the first receiver. If South Africa keep playing off ten the FdP is a much better option, if they want to get the best out of Pienaar then the emphasis for playmaking is going to have to be shifted to nine. That doesn't seem likely, especially with Steyn playing at fly half. [/QUOTE]
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Fourie du Preez and SA's no 9
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