Ruan Pienaar has warned the South African United Rugby Championship franchises that it’ll take time to settle in and be title challengers.

The four South African franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – are currently in their first season in the URC and have struggled in terms of results.

From a combined 20 matches played in the new competition, they’ve won just six games, resulting in the highest log position for a South African team being the Lions in 11th spot.

Pienaar, who had played in the competition during his seven-year stint with Ulster, but now plays for the Cheetahs, says he isn’t surprised at the local teams’ struggles.

“It is different and it will take time,” the 88-times capped Springbok told Sport24.

“When I went abroad first, people thought the game in the northern hemisphere is boring, ponderous and all those things.

“That really is not true. The teams are well-coached. They have really good players. Some of the best players in the world play in the URC.

“It will be a big challenge. It will take a year or two for the guys to adapt to the way the referees control the game and the way they [Euro teams] play.

“Obviously they put the focus and emphasis on different areas – those aspects we normally don’t focus on.”

Commenting on which local teams he feels will adapt the quickest, Pienaar said the Bulls and Sharks have the squad-depth and if given time they will be up for the title challenge.