The selflessness of Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn at the Free State Cheetahs should be a lesson for former teammates Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, writes DEVIN HERMANUS.
After a loan stint at the Sharks, Pienaar – an 88-cap Springbok with a 2007 World Cup winners’ medal – has spearheaded the Cheetahs’ unbeaten run in the Currie Cup this year.
Ageing like a fine wine, two-time World Cup-winner Steyn has been just as influential, and delivered another man-of-the-match performance in a comeback victory over Western Province on Friday.
Speaking post-match on the leadership of 38-year-old Pienaar, Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie said: “Ruan is a special person and player. He’s got all the skills and a calm head on his shoulders.
“Everyone in the team knows that if Ruan talks, you must listen and he will talk sense. You’ve got to step up and do what he asks, and it’s great to have a leader like him in the team.”
Steyn, in a video shared by Rassie Erasmus, even delighted fans by popping over for a beer after Friday’s win in Cape Town, and the 34-year-old has embraced his role with the Cheetahs.
“I am enjoying my rugby at present,” the 74-cap Bok said earlier in the season. “I am enjoying it here in the Free State. I truly feel there is something special happening. I am looking forward to seeing where the Free State can go in the future.”
Steyn: I will retire when I stop getting angry
In contrast, the conduct of the Du Plessis brothers in 2022 has been nothing short of juvenile.
They shared changing rooms with Pienaar and Steyn at the Springboks and Montpellier. Moreover, they all matriculated from Grey College, so the World Cup-winning siblings should also be leading by example and inspiring the next generation of SA players.
Rather, Bismarck is serving a three-week suspension for a punch thrown during the Currie Cup while on duty for the Vodacom Bulls, on the back of a three-match ban for a WWE shocker in the URC.
Bulls boss Jake White has repeatedly defended the 37-year-old’s actions, but for how much longer can the Pretoria outfit afford to bear the brunt of the veteran hooker’s indiscretions? The 79-cap Bok was suspended on the eve of the crunch north-south derby against the Stormers, and his presence is now more of a liability than an asset to the Bulls.
Older brother Jannie, the most senior player in a struggling Lions outfit in the Currie Cup, is no better example of a seasoned and disciplined campaigner. The 39-year-old had to be warned for slapping Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead on Thursday – five days removed from being yellow-carded for a blatant late tackle on the Sharks’ Reniel Hugo in the URC.
At a time when rugby’s safety police are vigilantly watching for any flouting of the laws, such flagrant disregard for the rules is worrying.
It’s refreshing to see Pienaar and Steyn ploughing back into the game, and the Du Plessis brothers’ behaviour suggests that maybe it’s time to move on.
