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Handre Pollard explains why Springboks aren't greatest ever team
By Rugby365
Handre Pollard has claimed that the current crop of Springboks will need to work harder if they want to be labelled the greatest of all time. The Springboks made it back-to-back Rugby World Cup wins last year in France and they followed that up by winning this year’s Rugby Championship trophy.
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However, Pollard believes consistency between World Cup tournaments is still something they need to work on if they want to be remembered as the best.
The 30-year-old believes the All Blacks team between 2011 and 2015 under Steve Hansen set the benchmark high. That team only lost three matches between World Cups.
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“That is 100 per cent for other people to judge,” Pollard told Dan Cole and Ben Youngs on the latest episode of the For The Love Of Rugby podcast. “My personal opinion is that we are not there yet. We want to be and we are going to try our very best, but that 2011 to 2015 All Blacks team is still the best team ever.
“The thing is we just need consistent success. We have done well in the World Cups. However, it’s about consistently winning Rugby Championships between World Cups and winning series.
“We are in Europe now and we are trying to three out of three. That is the kind of stuff that makes you one of, if not, the greatest team ever. We still got a little bit to go there, I feel. It’s definitely not something we speak about.
“We just want consistency. With developing young players and rotation, that is going to be hard, but we believe we can do that and still get the results. It’s going to be tough, but we are on our way.”
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Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
Fact or opinion?
Finally someone not tied up in this we are number 1 nonsense. Right on the mark and shows what a great team they are becoming. To recognise the greatest and try to emulate. Good on him. Respect.
Really enjoyed the interview. The boks have done an awesome job in how they portray their brand. Can't help but watching them and taking an interest in bok rugby. Well done gentlemen.
If only a lot of the South African fans were as humble as their players like Pollard
Most of them are. Welcome to hate the supporters but the players are down to earth and humble. That’s partly what gets them selected ahead of an arrogant and entitled one.
The reality is that without the ever increasing backing of WR officials it's doubtful that SA would be in the top 6 teams. One needs to look at pre isolation SA teams to find a genuinely competitive squad.
There is no "reality" whatsoever in any of your comments NE, you sound like Trump, every time you say somethings its BS....and please find an alternative word for "dunce" or is that as far as your vocabulary extends? Your hatred of SA is pitiful....their success must really be hurting.
A comment like that shows you not really a rugby supporter . Like them or not but boks have been good and very innovative of late.
The Springboks, just like the All Blacks, have always been one of the top 5 teams in the world ever since their inception in the early 20th century. Has zero to do with World Rugby.
Oh naaijill, did the doctor get your prescription wrong again?
lol 🤣
Pollard is a top bloke...supeb rugby player with a cool, honest analytical mind...doesn't overstress anything.