Cheetahs to unleash Pienaar against Lions?

NEWS: Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar could feature in the Free State Cheetahs’ Currie Cup Round Four clash against the Golden Lions on Friday.

The 35-year-old, who left French club Montpellier, signed a two-year contract with the Cheetahs, but only started training with the team on Monday as he had to relocate his family to Bloemfontein.

OFM revealed that captain and first-choice scrumhalf Tian Meyer took no part in training on Monday as he is struggling with a hamstring injury, which could open the door for Pienaar to face the Lions.

“I’ve done a lot of training on my own while packing up and moving back to South Africa,” Pienaar told OFM. “It is obviously different to rugby fitness which entails falling, getting up, making tackles, getting around the field, chancing direction and so on, but that will all come back in the next few weeks.

“In two weeks’ time I will feel a lot better, but I am excited. The guys are working hard and it high-intensity training which is exactly what I need. There a lot youngest that will push me, so it’s good to try and keep up with them.

“I believe that Tian will be ready for the weekend. He has two great games against the Blue Bulls and the Griquas.

“I haven’t played rugby since the first weekend in January, but I will be really excited if I get the opportunity to play this weekend, especially where it all started for me.”

Pienaar has 88 Test caps for the Springboks. After six seasons with the Sharks, Pienaar joined Irish province Ulster and became a legend for the team with his 141 appearances.

He eventually left Ulster for Montpellier in 2017.

The Cheetahs are currently sitting at the top of Currie Cup standings with two bonus-point wins from their two games so far.