Birth name | Zacharias Matheus Johannes Pienaar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 21 December 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 80 kg (180 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Dr Viljoen High School, Bloemfontein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | Ruan Pienaar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Zacharias Matheus Johannes 'Gysie' Pienaar (born 21 December 1954 in Bloemfontein, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player. [1]
Pienaar played for the Free State and the Springboks. [2] He made his test debut against the visiting South American Jaguars team on 3 May 1980 as a replacement in the second half for Pierre Edwards. His first starting cap for the Springboks was on 31 May 1980 at Newlands in Cape Town against the touring British and Irish Lions team captained by Bill Beaumont. [3]
Pienaar was capped 13 times for the Springboks, scored 2 tries and converted two penalty goals for a total of 14 test points.
No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Points | Date | Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | South American Jaguars | 18–9 | Replacement | 3 May 1980 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
2. | British Lions | 26–22 | Full-back | 31 May 1980 | Newlands, Cape Town | |
3. | British Lions | 26–19 | Full-back | 4 (1 try) | 14 June 1980 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
4. | British Lions | 12–10 | Full-back | 28 June 1980 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | |
5. | British Lions | 13–17 | Full-back | 6 (2 penalties) | 12 July 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
6. | South American Jaguars | 22–13 | Full-back | 18 October 1980 | Wanderers Club, Montevideo | |
7. | South American Jaguars | 30–16 | Full-back | 25 October 1980 | Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago | |
8. | France | 37–15 | Full-back | 4 (1 try) | 8 November 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
9. | Ireland | 23–15 | Full-back | 30 May 1981 | Newlands, Cape Town | |
10. | Ireland | 12–10 | Full-back | 6 June 1981 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | |
11. | New Zealand | 9–14 | Full Back | 15 August 1981 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | |
12. | New Zealand | 24–12 | Full-back | 29 August 1981 | Athletic Park, Wellington | |
13. | New Zealand | 22–25 | Full Back | 12 September 1981 | Eden Park, Auckland |
Pienaar was named the SA Rugby Player of the Year for 1980. [4]
Pienaar is the father of Ruan Pienaar, a professional rugby player and former Springbok.
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