Well, give Peter de Villiers points for steadfastness. The Springbok coach is considering starting Ruan Pienaar over Morne Steyn at flyhalf in this weekend’s big Tri Nations clash with Australia. Steyn just finished a record setting day against the All Blacks in which he scored all 31 of the Springbok points. Pienaar has had several appearances this year in which, for all of his promise, he has not been able to get out of his own way. Given that unpredictable player selection has been the biggest gripe of de Villiers’ detractors, it is almost as if he wants to thumb his nose at his critics and tempt fate against a Wallaby side that is ready for the Bok physicality and thinks it can defeat the Springboks. It is one thing to understand that in the best annual rugby competition on the globe even the best teams have to improve constantly. It is quite another stubbornly to stick to preconceived notions in the face of overwhelming evidence.
