Ruan Pienaar has admitted that he was taken aback by Jacques Nienaber’s decision to name four scrumhalves in the Springboks’ 33-player squad for the World Cup.
Having named 2019 World Cup winners Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies in their preparation squad alongside Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams, the Springboks were expected to cut at least two of them in the final squad to travel to France.
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However, when the squad was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that the world champions would be taking four scrumhalves, as only Jantjies was left out and named on the standby list.
This is despite Hendrikse and Williams struggling for Test minutes in 2023, with the latter getting concussed 15 seconds into his first start against Argentina at Ellis Park.
Meanwhile, there are five outside backs and just one flyhalf – Manie Libbok – in the squad, with Handre Pollard left out due to injury.
“I think we are all a little surprised by that [scrumhalf] choice,” Pienaar, who played the last of his 88 Test matches for the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup, told Netwerk24, before adding, “I think there is a plan to it after all.
“This is a surprise to many people. I think they might be doing it for a reason for what might happen with injuries.
“I think there has been deep thought about it and there is a deeper plan, if I have to say now.”
Photo: AFP/Juan Mabromata