Jake makes pivotal Ruan decision

JOHANNESBURG – Springbok coach Jake White yesterday gave an inkling of his thinking ahead of the Rugby World Cup when he named his side to face Irish province Connacht tonight.

(Kick-off at 20h30 on CSN & SS1). Ruan Pienaar has been named to start at flyhalf as the coach makes a belated search to find a backup for the two pivots in the squad, Butch James and André Pretorius, while James has been named at inside centre.Other interesting selections for the game to be played at the Sports Ground in Galway are JP Pietersen at fullback, Bob Skinstad as captain and No 8, Danie Rossouw as blindside flank and Bismarck du Plessis given a start at hooker.Wikus van Heerden and Gurthro Steenkamp are back from injury as White looks at his reserve strength ahead of the full international against Scotland on Saturday in preparation for the World Cup tournament which, for South Africa, kicks off on September 9 against Samoa at the Parc des Princes in Paris.Ruan Pienaar has been named to start at flyhalf as the coach makes a belated search to find a backup for the two pivots in the squad, Butch James and André Pretorius, while James has been named at inside centre.Other interesting selections for the game to be played at the Sports Ground in Galway are JP Pietersen at fullback, Bob Skinstad as captain and No 8, Danie Rossouw as blindside flank and Bismarck du Plessis given a start at hooker.Wikus van Heerden and Gurthro Steenkamp are back from injury as White looks at his reserve strength ahead of the full international against Scotland on Saturday in preparation for the World Cup tournament which, for South Africa, kicks off on September 9 against Samoa at the Parc des Princes in Paris.