Ruan Pienaard Should Start instead of

 Ruan Pienaar is a better scrum half than Francious Hougaard. 

At least in classic scrum half play which is passing.

Morne also seemed to play better when ever Pienaar replaced Hougaard during the English Test series. Pienaar gave the ball to Morne with allot more time and space- and more accurate passing. 

Hougaard is an excellant impact player and can also cover the wing from the bench.

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NewZealand Herald Quotes- Support what most here on SA rugby say about Morne Steyn-

Columnist and former Test bad-boy front-ranker Richard Loe said in the New Zealand Herald: “(South Africa’s) biggest selection question is over first five-eighth (flyhalf).

“If they select Morne Steyn, that will slow down their attacking play. They need a (flyhalf) who runs on to the ball and can get their backline away; they have some interesting characters in that backline ... such as Frans Steyn in midfield alongside Jean de Villiers.

“That gives them some real crunch going forward and on defence – (but) having someone like Steyn at 10 also tends to rob them of the spark that can come from (scrumhalf) Francois Hougaard.”

Sharkbok

The issue here remains about the half back playing strategy and situation.   I really believe that the coaching is to blame here - but I do not think Meyer is really to blame directly for that.   I think that th problem is more related to sub-par backline coaching and could possiblt be eliminated by getting in a real professional as backline coach.

I always thought that running onto the ball is a key element of backline play - but in the case of both Hougaard and Morne that never happens.   Loe is right on that point.    I do not think that the issue relates to only Morne - it also relates to the scrummie.   I tend to agree with you that Ruan as an experienced scrummie have a better passing technique than Hougaard - that do seem to get Steyn moving forward to receive the ball.  

In essence I believe that both players can beefit from proper coaching - but that seems to be out of the question in this case.    I do not think that Pienaar will be in the starting line up and that the situation would change within the next year.

hougaard gives more options so i would tend to play him on the bench. he tends to like a more fast paced less structured game so a wallies game might suite him more. against the AB and pumas the pace might very well be less but more trench warfare like. slow recycle more hits more in your face than quick and skillfull

i would start pienaar. would be good to ensure that therre is competition in the team.

Pienaar has shown some really great form recently and I feel would be a far better starter. He deserves the number 9 jersey for sure.

 Hougie tends to kick to often and his play from thew back of the scrum is sub standard for international rugby.

Pienaar deserves  a spell behind the pack to show his class and establish his place in the squad....but Steyn will have to be replaced at # 10 to allow the back line to make use of the ball instead of it being kicked aimlessly up field.