Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Handre Pollard ruled out of Boks' clash with Ireland

By PA
Handre Pollard of Leicester Tigers looks on following the Gallagher Premiership Semi-Final match between Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers at the AJ Bell Stadium on May 14, 2023 in Salford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Fly-half Handre Pollard will not be involved in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup clash with Ireland in Paris unless his side suffer a late injury crisis.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the reigning champions expect to have lock Eben Etzebeth available for Saturday evening’s Pool B fixture at Stade de France.

Pollard was left out of the Springboks’ initial 33-man squad for the tournament due to a calf problem before being called up on Sunday in place of injured hooker Malcolm Marx.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

The 29-year-old – a key man in his country’s victorious 2019 World Cup campaign – returned from injury on Friday evening as a second-half replacement in Leicester’s 18-14 Gallagher Premiership win at Sale.

Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said: “He will definitely not be selected for this, apart from if we get two or three injuries.

“He’s only just joined us today, he’s just played his first minutes in 14, 15 weeks for Leicester on Friday.

Related

“That was basically the initial reason why we couldn’t bring him to the World Cup.

“It’s good to have him here and now he must get up to speed with our intensity of training sessions, get through our training sessions and slot in nicely.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’ve only played two games in this World Cup so I’m pretty sure somewhere we will press on his button and use him but not this weekend.”

South Africa have begun their title defence with victories over Scotland and Romania.

Influential second row Etzebeth was forced off by a shoulder injury against the Scots last Sunday but has made a swift recovery.

“He reacted well last week with his return to training, so yes he will be in contention for this week,” forwards coach Deon Davids said of the 31-year-old.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
B
Bob Marler 456 days ago

Pollard is backup for the knockouts. This idea that he’s in the team to take Manie’s place is ridiculous. He’s played almost nil rugby in weeks. It would be stupidly risky despite his pedigree.

Off the bench after the Ireland game and only starting if Manie is injured.

At this point in time his role is that of Morne Steyn if Manie is fit and on form until the final.

I find it bizarre that anyone would suggest that Manie should be dropped when he is on form at 10. A plan needs to be made for the kicking, yes, but dropping your on form general is not one of them.

C
CO 456 days ago

Rassie playing games, we all know Pollard is starting at 10 in the quarter if fit.

No RWC has ever been won with a novice at flyhalf, Rassies very aware of that and the pitfalls of Eddie Jones adventurism.

Both coaches know their rugby however one of them gets carried away with a messianic complex whilst Rassie will be far more down to earth and knows in the heat of RWC elimination it's logical to get the flyhalf that's won RWC in position.

Even with Pollard starting the Boks are going to have to bring it to win RWC, they are without Marx which is a huge blow.

B
Bob Marler 457 days ago

Tonga. Off the bench. Covering 10 and 12.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

f
fl 1 hour ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

"Right, so even if they were the 4 worst teams in Champions Cup, you'd still have them back by default?"

I think (i) this would literally never happen, (ii) it technically couldn't quite happen, given at least 1 team would qualify via the challenge cup, so if the actual worst team in the CC qualified it would have to be because they did really well after being knocked down to the challenge cup.

But the 13th-15th teams could qualify and to be fair I didn't think about this as a possibility. I don't think a team should be able to qualify via the Champions Cup if they finish last in their group.


Overall though I like my idea best because my thinking is, each league should get a few qualification spots, and then the rest of the spots should go to the next best teams who have proven an ability to be competitive in the champions cup. The elite French clubs generally make up the bulk of the semi-final spots, but that doesn't (necessarily) mean that the 5th-8th best French clubs would be competitive in a slimmed down champions cup. The CC is always going to be really great competition from the semis onwards, but the issue is that there are some pretty poor showings in the earlier rounds. Reducing the number of teams would help a little bit, but we could improve things further by (i) ensuring that the on-paper "worst" teams in the competition have a track record of performing well in the CC, and (ii) by incentivising teams to prioritise the competition. Teams that have a chance to win the whole thing will always be incentivised to do that, but my system would incentivise teams with no chance of making the final to at least try to win a few group stage matches.


"I'm afraid to say"

Its christmas time; there's no need to be afraid!

119 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Barrett and Prendergast put Leinster European rivals on notice Barrett and Prendergast put Leinster European rivals on notice
Search