Wallabies make Pienaar's cut

Wallabies make Pienaar's cut

May 31, 2010

DOUBT may surround the make-up of the new-look Wallabies side, but World Cup-winning Springboks captain Francois Pienaar is sure they will make the semi-finals of next year's tournament in New Zealand.

Pienaar expects all three Tri Nations teams to advance to the semis of the World Cup.

''A World Cup in New Zealand - you have to give New Zealand an advantage,'' Pienaar told the Herald. ''To play a World Cup at home gives you a 10 per cent advantage. It's amazing to play in front of your people.

''[Then] look at the form card. France have been going well, with both teams [Toulouse and Biarritz] in the Heineken Cup final and [Les Bleus winning] the Six Nations by playing good rugby. With a nice balance of team and good coaching staff, France are a definite contender for a semi-final spot.

''Then there are the usual suspects - South Africa, Australia - and there might be the odd chance that there will be an upset [team that qualifies].''

Rupert Guinness