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Handre Pollard makes shock return to Bulls side to face Highlanders

Handre Pollard. (Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images)

Handre Pollard has made a shock return to the Bulls side to face the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday.

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The Springboks first-five was originally sent back to South Africa, alongside international and Super Rugby teammate Duane Vermuelen, to nurse a calf injury following his side’s 22-10 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra two weeks ago, which meant he missed his side’s 22-all draw with the Blues in Auckland last week.

However, with a play-offs spot on the line in this week’s clash, head coach Pote Human has had a change of heart, and has re-called his captain back into the starting side.

The Highlanders would have been hopeful of facing a depleted Bulls outfit that would have been missing Pollard, Vermuelen and electric winger Rosko Specman, who came off injured against the Blues.

The latter two remain absent from the side, but Aaron Mauger’s men will now have to contend with 39-test Pollard, who will steer the ship in place of last week’s incumbent Mannie Libbok.

Whether Pollard has fully recovered from his calf injury remains unclear, but what is certain is that the 25-year-old’s re-call into the squad indicates the pressure the Pretoria club is facing with getting back into the Super Rugby post-season for the first time since 2013.

Currently ranked seventh overall and third on the South African conference with 34 points, a win in Dunedin will put them in good stead for qualification into the quarter-finals ahead of their final regular season fixture against the Lions next week.

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Pollard is one of five changes in the Bulls’ starting lineup from last week’s stalemate at Eden Park.

Injury has cut Paul Schoeman’s tour of Australasia short, meaning Marco van Staden will move to No. 8, freeing up the No. 6 jersey for Ruan Steenkamp, whose place on the bench is filled by Johan Grobbelaar.

The elevation of Embrose Papier from the reserves into the starting side for Ivan van Zyl at halfback rounds out a completely new halves pairing from last week, while Johnny Kotze shifts from the midfield onto the wing in place of the injured Specman, with Dylan Sage filling the void at centre.

At fullback, five-test Springbok Warrick Gelant is replaced by Namibian international Divan Russouw, whose spot on the bench is covered by JT Jackson.

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H
Hellhound 52 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

Actually you need to read my responses properly. The response on which you responded is actually aimed at CO, another responder. Go read my original response on Ben Smith's BS. He is a bloody joke, a wannabe. And so is any of that losers followers. If you talk crap all the time it try to clickbait like BS, then don't expect people to respect him.


Most people (not you of course) will never take him serious. We all see him exactly for who and what he is. Talking about victories for the French in 2017 and 2021. Most of those players isn't in the AB's team. In the game in the WC the AB's was fresh off a hiding from the Boks with their confidence so easy targets. Unsettled team with a coach that already lost his job. As if that is such a motivation, most players knowing under Robinson they will be dropped for his Crusaders players.


Not exactly the environment in which to claim WC honours. Yet, despite all that turmoil, that AB team that got thrashed by the Boks and lost to France, came back and made the WC Final. None of these things get mentioned. Oh no, that doesn't suit his narrative doesn't it? He needs to clickbait the SH teams as usual.


I'm not a violent man, not always, but that's a pathetic little worm I would break every bone in his body, and each sound of breaking bone would give me as much pleasure as a win for the Boks. I would record the sound of his breaking bones and use it as a new ringtone. That is how much respect I have for idiot clickbaiters like him.


Instead of proper articles like the rest out there, all he mostly dish up is tripe. He should change his name to Tripe Smith. That is a much better description of the weasel. Is that dissing enough for you? Next time, actually read to who my responses are aimed at and read their responses as to what elicited that type of response from me.


I don't usually strip myself for any response by you. I actually agree with most everything you usually say and I'm sure you would be a much better writer than BS, however, make sure you read to who and why the responses there is from various people before commenting. As for Lomu, he is one of the greats, despite not getting a WC trophy. I only had the highest regard for that man. What a player and what a human being he was.

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