Former Springbok technical advisor Coach Eddie Jones believes that Ruan Pienaar has the potential to become a world-class fly-half and should be convinced to play there for South Africa.
The former Wallaby Head Coach also reckons that inside centre is Francois Steyn's best position and that the Sharks duo could form a formidable partnership.
Jones, the Director of Rugby at English club Saracens has been has been in South Africa to look into the possibility of a player exchanges with the Blue Bulls and Western Province. South African sports promotions company SAIL holds shares in all three organizations, which would facilitate any such moves.
"Ruan Pienaar, that's who I would pick," Jones told Super Sport, when asked who should play fly-half for the Boks.
"They (the Springbok selectors) should pick him at 10 and just stick with him for a couple of years. He's such a talented player.
"In terms of [fly-half] Butch James has done a tremendous job, but he is playing back-to-back seasons so it is going to catch up with him, and he is getting older...
"The guy I like is Ruan Pienaar. He trained during the World Cup at [fly-half] and to me he looks the most like a Steve Larkham. He's got outstanding pace, he's got great catch, pass - he'll have to learn how to play that position, and it will take a couple of seasons, but you know Steve Larkham wasn't the finished product until three or four years down the track.
"It will take that investment but to me Ruan's got everything you would need to have as a good fly-half for the Springboks - and he's tough! you know he doesn't mind mixing it," said Jones whose contributions to the Springboks back-line play at last year's World Cup has been praised by all involved.
He also added that, if it were up to him, Francois Steyn would be running at inside centre
"I think at this stage Francois is an inside centre. He was outstanding at the World Cup - big, strong guy, gets over the gainline, very good kicking game, great defender - so you could actually use him as a second stand-off as well.
"So going forward you could have a Ruan Pienaar at 10 and a Francois Steyn at 12 - it not only gives you running options, it gives you kicking options and also passing options.
"Imagine playing against them when they're on song? Plus they're young and have many years to come," added Jones.
