Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Rassie Erasmus elects his replacements for the injured Handre Pollard

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

South Africa’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber opened up about a possible replacement for the injured Handre Pollard.

ADVERTISEMENT

The World Cup-winning flyhalf, Pollard, will miss this year’s re-scheduled Rugby Championship – if the Boks take part – after he was ruled out for ‘many months’ with knee ligament damage suffered while playing for Montpellier in the Top 14.

The Springboks are set to start the defence of the Rugby Championship, moved from mid-year due to the coronavirus pandemic, by facing Argentina on November 7 – with the tournament ending on December 12.

Video Spacer

The dark horse combination to be Rennie’s first Wallabies halves pairing

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 6:18
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 6:18
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    The dark horse combination to be Rennie’s first Wallabies halves pairing

    However, Erasmus and Nienaber explained on Monday that they still have to jump through many hoops before departing for Australia in mid-October.

    Despite the uncertainty, they openly discussed possible replacements for Pollard – including Elton Jantjies and Damian Willemse – who were Pollard’s back-ups at last year’s World Cup and will go head-to-head in the Green versus Gold Bok trial at Newlands on Saturday.

    “It is always a massive blow,” Erasmus told a virtual media briefing on Monday, when asked about Pollard’s injury.

    However, he heaped praise on Jantjies for being the ‘ultimate team man’ at the World Cup.

    “He was unbelievable in helping us win World Cup, even though he only played three games,” Erasmus said, adding: “Even when we went to the six [forwards and] two [backs] split.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “I have a lot of faith in Elton.

    “When Elton plays a good, structured game behind a good pack of forwards, he is unbelievable.”

    The SA Rugby boss revealed there were times before the World Cup when Jantjies was pushing Pollard hard for that starting spot in the Bok team.

    “In the end, Handre was No.1 and did very well.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CFvCa33hDDr/

    Erasmus also pointed to Willemse as a candidate.

    “He was at the World Cup and can do it [the job] for you at No.10 and No.15.

    “We still have a guy like Frans Steyn. He can be on the bench and cover No.10 and No.12 for you.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “We have Curwin [Bosch], if he gets a good run.

    “I love it when it is an extended competition and players get tested.

    “Those will be the flyhalves in the mix if we go top the Rugby Championship.

    “Elton, in my opinion, would be the first choice – just on his potential and what he has done before.

    “Curwin will be pushing him really hard.”

    Nienaber was clear about what he looks for in a flyhalf and what he will look at in Saturday’s Newlands trial.

    “From my side, because of the COVID-19 restrictions, there won’t be a lot of training [in Cape Town this week],” Nienaber said.

    “It will be nice to see them take control, getting the attack going, start playing on the front foot.

    “What we would like to see is a nice calm flyhalf, giving guidance to his forwards and taking them forward.”

    – Jan de Koning/Rugby365

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Boks Office | Episode 35 | Six Nations Round 2 Review

    O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

    Second round of the Men's Six Nations | Whistle Watch

    Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

    The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

    Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    M
    MS 3 hours ago
    Why Jac Morgan is a British and Irish Lions Test starter

    To be perfectly honest with you, Morgan’s stats don’t seem particularly convincing for a prospective Lions Test Match starting Seven.


    He’s one of Wales’ principle carriers, and he’s effective enough in that role. But that’s not the role of a Test Match Seven. It simply isn’t.


    In fact, given one of Wales’ games has been against Italy, yet Morgan has a tackle completion rate of only 85% - and worse not one single turnover to his name, if anything those stats actually spell out the reasons why Morgan SHOULDN’T be the Lions Test Seven - or even in competition for that spot.


    The series will be against an Australia team keen to compete hard on the deck. The Lions will have their pick of ball carrying B/S Flankers, Eights, and Twelves. Indeed, due to the way the modern game is played even Props and Hookers in that Lions squad will be ferocious ball carrying options. So they simply do not need a dedicated carrying option off Seven.


    I’m actually rather surprised the author used those stats to support his argument as that table achieves the complete opposite of the desired effect.


    I’m afraid tackle completion rates alone, especially without indicating if they were single vs double tackles, or dominant, are next to useless.


    I would be curious to see ‘dominant tackle’ stats, as well as tackles completed one-on-one vs as a pair. I get the impression Wales are sending two/three tacklers into the contact area each time - and even then not necessarily stopping their opponent.

    6 Go to comments
    TRENDING
    TRENDING One change as Steve Borthwick names his England team two days early One change as Steve Borthwick names his England team two days early
    Search