Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s been really special.. thank you & goodbye
PIENAAR PAYS TRIBUTE TO FANS ON AN EMOTIONAL DAY
RUAN PIENAAR thanked the Ulster support on Saturday for giving a him dream stay in Belfast. The 33-year-old scrum-half will join up with French Top 14 giants Montpellier next season after he was forced to leave Ulster due to IRFU rules. Pienaar played his 141st game for the province as they saw off Leinster 17-13 at Kingspan Stadium at the weekend. The South African addressed the fans after the win, saying: “Thank you for the last seven years. Obviously it’s been really special and I am really sad to leave this place. “But we are leaving on a high. And that’s probably the only positive at this stage. “I am just happy the guys dug in and got us the win. But it’s just a sad day. “Credit to the boys, we hung in there against Leinster. And it’s a great send off for Roger Wilson as well, ending his career. “Franco van der Merwe, Neil Doak, all of those guys moving on. I am just happy we got the win and it was a special way to do it.” On his last professional appearance, big No8 Wilson (inset) dotted down after just nine minutes in response to an early Joey Carbery penalty for Leinster. The Blues were looking to finish top of the Pro12 standings and young out-half Carbery missed a penalty before cutting the gap to just one point with his second successful effort. But Ulster out-half Paddy Jackson put the home side into a 10-6 half-time lead and then fellow Ireland international Andrew Trimble scored their second try and Jackson’s conversion gave them a 17-6 advantage. Leinster came with a late surge but despite scoring a penalty try they couldn’t get the win they required to finish top dogs in the table.