Happy Pienaar relishing Pelissie challenge

Montpellier v Ulster

Pienaar wears the number nine jersey in today’s massive Heineken Cup test at Montpellier, who have yet to lose at home in the competition. The return of Pienaar is the only change from last week’s success over Leicester, with All Black John Afoa on the bench alongside Lewis Stevenson, who replaces Robbie Diack.

Meanwhile, Pienaar says both he and his young family love the lifestyle and people of Belfast, and that signing on until the end of the 2017 season was never going to be a difficult decision.

“It’s nice to know where you’re going to spend the next few years,” said Pienaar. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds here particularly with Ravenhill undergoing a huge transformation. I was amazed at the change to Ravenhill on my return last week and it’s exciting. I had already made my mind up last month, despite offers elsewhere and now I’m happy with my decision and looking forward to moving forward.

“The support that I have been given on and of the field since I arrived here a couple of years ago has been fantastic and that has meant a lot to me and my family and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to extend my time here and hopefully there will be some good years ahead,” said Pienaar who came off the bench to add a bit of lustre to Ulster’s performance in their 18-12 win over Leicester Tigers last week.

“We just need to be more accurate. Any French side you have to play over there is tough, with the start they have had in the Top14 where they are leaders and they’ve beaten Clermont convincingly, it’s going to be a massive challenge for us, but the guys are looking forward to it. It is why you play rugby.”

Pienaar will be up against rising French scrum-half Jonathan Pelissie, who inspired Montpellier last week against Treviso.

“I haven’t played against him and this will be the first time I’ve seen him this year. He has been in brilliant form and is a great player. He is important for Montpellier as he is the guy that gets everything going and he is one of the players we will need to look out for.

“He is quick around the rucks, he has a good kicking game and we’ll definitely show him the respect he deserves,” said Pienaar who guided Ulster to their first victory on French soil last season when they defeated current Top 14 champions Castres.

“The guys are excited, and getting the bogey off our backs last year was big step in the right direction. We have prepared well, analysed them well and hopefully we can be more accurate and precise in what we do.”

Montpellier, meanwhile, have recalled former Ulster winger Timoci (Jimmy) Nagusa to a side that shows eight changes, including a brand new front row, from that which defeated Treviso last week. Nagusa is remembered for scoring two superlative individual tries against Munster four years ago.