Autumn Internationals 2010: Wayne Rooney's energy gives England edge, says Francois Pienaar

Francois Pienaar skippered South Africa’s rugby union side to global glory and he reckons the “infectious enthusiasm” of Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi could give their countries the edge when football’s World Cup takes place in his homeland.

“I think you have to look at the usual suspects and see what effects the likes of Messi or Wayne Rooney can have,” Pienaar said.

For players it is impossible to shake out the knowledge that this is not the real deal and though they may say that 100 per cent attention is given, they will have reserved some part of their thoughts for South Africa. There is nothing wrong with this and nothing Capello can do anyway. The only thing you can hope for is that none of the players gets injured.

“A successful team needs to have players on the pitch who can sense the moment and feed off one another.

“Individuals like Messi and Rooney just sort of inject enthusiasm. They have that can-do mentality and winning spirit and when you have that in your team it is infectious.

“I think that Brazil are looking very good and playing some very sexy football. But who knows? When France won it no one gave them a chance.

“I think that England will be really strong, the Germans are always there. Then there is Spain, Italy, Argentina – if the rest of the team can back up Lionel Messi.”

Pienaar inspired South Africa to World Cup success as they overcame the odds and that is something his compatriots in the Bafana Bafana team will have to repeat just to maintain their interest in the tournament beyond the group stage.

“We were a very good team, not favourites certainly, but it was a very special team and had the knock-out punch which we delivered when it mattered,” Pienaar added.

“Bafana Bafana have not had the build-up to their tournament that we had but if the team gels, trains hard and has resolve and the obsession to detail that I always say you need then they have a shot.

“If Bafana Bafana reaches the knock-out stage, as we all hope they do it will be just like 1995 or 1996 when I went with the whole team to the stadium in Soweto to see South Africa win the Africa Cup of Nations.”

England V South Africa hospitality

Rugby Hospitality