Because he was asked the questions, Bok coach Peter de Villiers came up with all the predictable and, in his situation, unavoidable responses: Yes, Ruan Pienaar is still in his plans, yes, Ruan Pienaar is still a good player, yes, Ruan Pienaar is still being look at as a flyhalf.

Given the way Steyn had dominated both the scoreboard and the field with his boot, however, it really was surprising that the questions should be asked at all. The reality is that Pienaar did take a part in training last week, so probably would have played in Durban had the coach felt it was completely necessary and there was no Steyn to call on for his metronomic goalkicking and prodigious and well targeted field kicking.

Yet because nothing in the world of sport can be completely be regarded to be beyond the realms of possibility, the naming of an unchanged team should nonetheless have been soothing to those South African fans who still remember some of the strategy shifts that contributed to the last place finish in the 2008 Tri-Nations.

The naming of the same 15 that started at the Absa Stadium three days ago means that the Boks will not be re-enacting the suicidal adjustment they made between the win over the All Blacks in Dunedin last year and the game against Australia in Perth a week later.

Back then it was explained by the theory that you could run against the Australians but not the All Blacks, for whom you needed to be confrontational. Had Pienaar been selected at No 10, it would have signified a desire “to play more rugby”, the new euphemism for any kind of strategy that does not rely on kicking and feeding off opposition mistakes.

The point though is that Pienaar is still there to provide that dynamic if it is needed, and with Adi Jacobs on the bench, those who argue that strength of this Bok squad is in the versatility and different options are not just guilty of hyperbole.

This strength was apparent, though in a bizarre reverse fashion to how you would imagine, in the last quarter of the second test against the British and Irish Lions, when Steyn came on to kick the crucial goals when Pienaar was failing, and another reserve in Jaque Fourie joined Bryan Habana in bringing some reward for a more open approach.

With Pienaar there De Villiers does have options, and it explains why the Sharks utility back has not also taken Ricky Januarie’s place on the bench.

“We want Ruan to get used to the idea of playing flyhalf which is why we are using him as a flyhalf reserve,” was how De Villiers explained what looks like a duplication of scrumhalves.

“When we feel we need to have a five/two split between forwards and backs on the bench, then we will use Ruan as a scrumhalf back-up. But in this situation it is not necessary, and Ricky showed when he came on last week against the All Blacks why he is in the squad,” he continued.

Pienaar for Wynand Olivier is the only change to the 22 that did duty in the 31-19 win over New Zealand.

Bok team: Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira.

Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Adrian Jacobs

Source:  supersport.co.za