World Cup winner Ruan Pienaar’s career in South Africa might have come to a premature end.
The 43-Test veteran utility back has suffered a shoulder injury and faces several weeks on the sidelines.
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It now seems unlikely he will return to the playing field before he departs to Irish province Ulster on September 1.
Pienaar, who featured in all seven South Africa’s Tests this year (one as flyhalf, one as scrumhalf and five as a replacement), suffered the injury in the Sharks’ 25-11 Currie Cup win over the Free State Cheetahs at the weekend.
The Sharks medical team has put Pienaar’s lay-off period at three to four weeks, which may take him beyond his departure date, and coach John Plumtree admitted he was in a race against time to play again before heading abroad.
Pienaar will definitely not feature when the Sharks host the Lions in Durban on Saturday and also looks unlikely to be fit for the Boks’ historic Test match against the All Blacks in Soweto on August 21.
He could have a ‘farewell match’ when the Sharks play Griquas in Durban on August 27.
The Sharks coach, Plumtree, also has other injury worries – with fellow flyhalf Steve Meyer also doubtful for this week.
“Steve Meyer has a ligament problem, Louis Ludik hyper-extended his knee and Ruan Pienaar has injured his AC joint,” said Plumtree, who added that “it doesn’t look good” for Pienaar or Meyer.
Although Pienaar played in his first Currie Cup match of the season when he came on as a replacement against the Cheetahs last week, he has appeared in 33 games for the Sharks, scored seven tries and 261 points.
He featured in all 13 the Sharks’ Super 14 matches this year and has made 67 appearances in total – scoring 10 tries and 252 points.
boy oh boy we sure know how to throw talent away in this country
@ sharky_forever:1 – Sharky, We sure do. Ruan should have been playing all along for the Boks while FdP is out instead of Ricky. Ruan then would have had to be rested for the CC. Now he has a shoulder injury and think that will be the last we see him playing here in SA. Pity a huge talent got messed about.
Not only in the Sharks but at the Boks too. Plum moved him to FH cause that is where PdV wanted him to play for the Boks. What a waste to lose a talent like him.
Now also read that Lambie might play FH this Saturday cause Meyer is out. Moving him about in different positions far too much I think.
Gbs, I read on Supersport that Ruan is out for 6 weeks. So he wont be playing for the Boks again this year or probably never again. Pity.
Very sad news. Well that will be me with regard to tri-nations this year. I won’t be watching any of the remaining springbok matches this year. I’ve had enough of Rickey Januarie, thank you.
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