Pienaar’s ‘unexpected birthday gift’ from Cheetahs team-mate

Not quite the birthday present that Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar was expecting. But, a try is a try, and if it keeps the kids happy he’ll take it.

After wing Rosko Specman had crossed the tryline he lobbed the ball to his Cheetahs captain Pienaar to dot down, and “celebrate” his 37th birthday (the day before) with a try.

The unselfish feat by Specman helped the Cheetahs edge the Sharks 39-38 in their Preparation Series match in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

“We didn’t plan anything before the game, that’s for sure,” said Pienaar afterwards. “But Rosko gave me a nice present for my birthday and my kids would have been happy because they asked me to score a try (for them), so they’ll be thrilled.”

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Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie meanwhile said he was disappointed by how his players had let the Sharks back into the game on Wednesday after initially playing some sparkling rugby to lead 28-12 at the break.

“The guys executed really well in the first half, and we could maybe have scored one or two more tries,” said Fourie, who felt the scrums went against his team in the second period.

“We conceded three penalties on our own feed which is not acceptable, and we need to make a step-up in that department,” he said.

“We conceded a few silly breakdown penalties as well, which put us under even more pressure.”

Pienaar added: “Our discipline let us down in the second half. I don’t think we ran out of steam in the second half but it was tough to get into the game because we conceded so many penalties. We also gave away some soft tries.”

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