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Boks expecting England to take 'intensity and physicality to a whole new level'

By PA
England versus Fiji/ PA

Fly-half Handre Pollard says the pressure of representing South Africa at the World Cup is a privilege as he bids to inflict more misery on England.

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Pollard kicked 22 points in the 2019 final to guide the Springboks to glory with a 32-12 win and still remembers the disappointment etched on the faces of Eddie Jones’ men.

The fit-again Leicester playmaker is competing with Manie Libbok to start Saturday’s Paris semi-final after initially being overlooked for his country’s squad due to a calf injury.

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WATCH as South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus talks about the pitfalls of facing England in the World Cup semifinal

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    WATCH as South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus talks about the pitfalls of facing England in the World Cup semifinal

    Pollard expects England, now led by Jones’ successor Steve Borthwick, to take their intensity and physicality to a “whole new level” but insists the heavily-fancied reigning champions are ready for it.

    “You could see on their faces four years ago the disappointment and I’ve been part of a squad that’s fallen out in a semi-final in a World Cup (in 2015) and it sits with you the rest of your life,” he said.

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    “There’s a lot of things you look back (on) and regret and maybe think you could have done differently, and I’m sure they will come with that mindset this weekend.

    “I think they will be ruthless, I think they will take their intensity and physicality to a whole new level.

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    “But that being said, we’re prepared for that, we’re ready for that and we enjoy that.

    “That’s always a part of the game we love and if there’s going to be beef, there’s going to be beef.

    “It’s Test rugby, it’s 80 minutes and we’ve just got to go out and play the game.”

    South Africa are seeking to reach their fourth World Cup final, having lifted the trophy in 1995, 2007 and 2019.

    Pollard believes the Springboks’ enviable ability to deliver when it really matters can partly be attributed to adversity some players face during childhood.

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    “It’s just the way we’re brought up,” he said. “We love it.

    “It’s not always been easy for a lot of our guys in our squad growing up so when we get to this position and get to this point where there should be a lot of pressure on us, we refer back to it a lot, this is not really pressure, this is more privilege to be a part of these occasions.

    “I think our game model and the way we play the game suits World Cups pretty well. We’re comfortable in this environment.

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    “As a group we just enjoy it, really enjoy that pressure. We always say it’s a privilege to have this pressure on our shoulders playing for our country.”

    South Africa progressed to the last four by upsetting hosts France 29-28 on Sunday.

    That epic contest included Cheslin Kolbe successfully charging down a Thomas Ramos conversion and Damian Willemse calling for a scrum off a mark inside his own 22.

    Earlier in the tournament, the Springboks attracted attention for a bold selection of a seven-one split of forwards and backs on their bench for the Pool B loss to Ireland.

    Pollard says players fully embrace the innovative tactics cooked up by director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and head coach Jacques Nienaber.

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    Last 5 Meetings

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    Draws
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    Average Points scored
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    26
    First try wins
    80%
    Home team wins
    20%

    “Nothing that they do is for no reason, it’s all thought of, it’s all tick-list planned,” he said.

    “We trust them because they’ve earned our trust over the years from what they’ve done and how they’ve prepared.

    “So when they come up with these ideas, there are no questions asked.

    “They give us a reason why we do whatever we do and then we just back it and we’re all in and we all just trust each other, players to coaches and coaches to players.”

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    Comments

    11 Comments
    K
    KiwiSteve 534 days ago

    ENG subs are more finishers than power. The Bomb Squad coming on at 50 mins means it's a full 80 mins of defence. The finisher's won't get to finish as there won't be any tired BOK forwards shuffling around that can be taken advantage of. And at the same time the replacement BOK scrum is even more horrible than the starting 8. Pollard comes on in the 2H and kicks the scrum penalties. It's going to be a long day in the Eng office.

    N
    Nigel 534 days ago

    Looking forward to watching Itoje yet again rag dolling etzebeth and the silent assassin, Chessmaster, bringing his physicality into play as well. Earl and Curry are streets ahead of anybody SA has available in France in the loose forward dept. We have parity, at worst, with SA up front but O'Keeffe will no doubt again play the game with his green and gold goggles on.

    O
    Ol'Misty 535 days ago

    Hmmm. Who to support? The great old foe, or the least likeable team in world rugby? The enemy of my enemy something something….Boks it is. BOKKA BOKKA BOKKA!!!

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    fl 2 hours ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

    Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


    “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

    I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


    “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

    I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


    “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

    I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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