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RUAN PIENAAR
ON…
HIS TOP 3 ULSTER MEMORIES
FROM 100 CAPS:
Your first cap is always one that you will remember
and one that remains special. Running out at the
old Ravenhill for my first cap was really memorable.
I remember being very nervous, it was a new
setting for me with new teammates and I wanted
to slot in as quickly as possible. It was exciting but
nerve-racking because I really wanted to impress.
The 2012 season was also a highlight for me, the
quarter final away to Munster and the semi final at
the Aviva were games that I really
enjoyed. The experience was
unbelievable, from the moment
we left the hotel to see the support
and the white jerseys all over the
place was amazing. The final
was also very special. Although
we didn’t get the result, to see so
many supporters in London was
incredible and even though we
were beaten the supporters were
still so proud of us getting so far.
My hundredth cap was also really
special, I never thought that I
would get there but to achieve that
was really a special occasion for
me. It would have been nicer to
get it at home but still really good despite the final
result. I am very proud to have played 100 games
for Ulster.
LIVING IN ULSTER:
I think the people really make this a special place to
live. My family has been welcomed with open arms
and the support has been fantastic for us foreign
players. They will come to games regardless of
wind, rain or snow - they are at Kingspan cheering
us on. In general, it is a beautiful place, you can go
to visit so many nice villages and towns that are
just 30 minutes from Belfast so little things like that
make this place special. Obviously the weather
is challenging for us, it is different to what we are
used to back home in South Africa, but it is part of
the experience and we have embraced it.
CHRISTMAS:
We are going to be by ourselves this Christmas.
There is no family coming to visit from South
Africa so that is tough, being so far away and
not being able to see them. Although I am sure
a couple of the foreign players will get together
to share Christmas time. We went into town
yesterday and the kids were really excited to see
all the decorations and Christmas lights – it is a
special time of the year and you can feel the festive
atmosphere starting to build around town, which
is cool, and we are all looking forward to Father
Christmas coming.
LEINSTER:
There was some good play and I think we showed
some improvements, but for us I think we have
been inconsistent in our performances these past
few weeks. The coaches have been
working really hard with us in trying
to implement the plans they want
us to execute and hopefully we are
getting there. It was disappointing
not being able to get a result last
Friday and Leinster is always a
tough team to face. We showed
some glimpses of what we wanted
to do but there is still a way to go.
I think our basic skills deserve our
attention, and that is something
Les and Doaky have been working
on. We have worked on basic skills
and reducing simple errors which
sometimes let us down, but the guys
are all still upbeat and working hard
and they still have a positive attitude. There is still a
long way to go in the season so I am excited for the
next couple of games and hopefully we can show
the hard work we have put into training coming out
on the pitch come game night.
EDINBURGH:
We pride ourselves on our performances at
Kingspan Stadium and I think the last time we
played here we let ourselves down. This is an
important game for us, and for us it is about
improving, getting momentum, putting in an
energetic performance and getting the confidence
up. Edinburgh are a really good side, they are
playing good rugby and they have been very
impressive, so it will be another difficult fixture. But
the guys are excited to get out there again and it
would be nice to score some tries again to get the
fans excited so they will get behind us and support
us and hopefully everyone will be in the festive
mood.
RUAN PIENAAR