Pienaar targets dangerman Genia
Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar believes disrupting Wallaby captain Will Genia will be the key to victory on Saturday.
Pienaar, who will make his first start for South Africa this season, says cutting Australia off at the source will go a long way in ending a four-match losing streak against the Wallabies.
"Will's probably the most important guy in the Australian side so it's a big challenge for me, but I think that's why you play rugby to play against the best guys and hopefully I can do a proper job," Pienaar told New Zealand's Yahoo! Sport.
The experienced Pienaar said he has great respect for his opposite number, who he regards as the best exponent of scrumhalf play in the game today.
"Obviously for me he's probably the best nine in world rugby for a couple of seasons now and he's a player who can create something out of nothing.”
South Africa, whilst occupying second place on the Rugby Championship log, find themselves in a do-or-die situation like their hosts, who are winless after back-to-back losses to the log-leading All Blacks and have to win Saturday’s clash at Paterson’s Stadium to keep their slim title aspirations alive.
"I think the whole Australian team will be keen to do well and we didn't get what we wanted out of those two Argentina games … so it's going to be an interesting game and a tough game," said Pienaar.
"It's a must-win for both teams and for us travelling over here it's a big challenge playing in Perth.
"Both of us are under a bit of pressure and want to perform well and build momentum going forward in this competition," he added.
Pienaar said that his focus will be on doing the basics well and finding a balance between releasing the backline and dominating territory with the boot as the Boks look to impose themselves on the Wallabies.
"It is important to have a balance in your play. We have guys with speed on the outside and that also has to be used but I think everyone knows that our tactical kicking has been one of our strong points over the last few years.
"Hopefully everyone who kicks, myself, Morne [Steyn], Fransie [Steyn] and Zane [Kirchner] at the back, can get good field position with our kicks to put Australia under pressure to give the guys with speed a chance to attack.
"For me, as scrumhalf, the most important thing is to deliver good service and to get to the breakdown points quickly. If we can get momentum and get quicker ball then we play some of our best rugby so I just want to do the basics well and the rest will fall into place," he said.
