The Rugby World Cup winner with the Springboks is working with a lot of talented players in the backline, but some are lacking confidence because of limited game time.

Pienaar has been coaching the backline for some time now, and what is impressive is that he does the fitness and kicking drills with the players. Just as he led by example on the field as a player, he sets the same example as a coach.

There was no doubt that Pienaar as a player was Mr Consistency through regular and confident performances in a career that spanned two decades. It only takes one moment for a player to regain confidence and this is what Cheetahs are hoping to unlock.

A player such as George Lourens is an exceptionally good player and it was for a very good reason that he is a former Player of the Varsity Cup – but he doesn’t get regular game time. Lourens is very much a confidence player, and when he is confident, he is a match-winner – there is no doubting that.

Pienaar, who still played with most of these players until as recently as last year, told OFM Sport that regular game time is imperative.

“They need more game time,” said Pienaar. “But with that, if they are given an opportunity, they need to take it. You want to get to a place where you can rotate players and have complete trust in them, knowing they can perform at the same level as a guy who is a regular starter.

George Lourens. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I think that's maybe part of what Frans (Steyn) wants to try and achieve here by giving the guys more opportunities,” Pienaar added. “That’s probably the way to go – that’s maybe where Frans would like the squad to go. It's a long season, and if there are twenty or so games, you can’t expect one guy to play week in and week out.

“It’s about keeping them sharp and building trust between each other. Then, when they get the opportunity, they can slot in, and there won’t be any drop in performance compared to the guy who regularly starts.

“That’s probably where they want the squad to go.”

The Cheetahs will kick off their SA Cup campaign on 8 March against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg