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'The public doesn't give a rat's ass that he hasn't played in 16 weeks'

South Africa's coach Jacques Nienaber conducts a press conference prior to the team's departure for the Rugby World Cup 2023 at OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni on August 12, 2023. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Phill Magakoe has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Ekurhuleni] instead of [Johannesburg]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require." (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has come up with a unique way of portraying the South African public’s attitude to the decision not to include outside half Handre Pollard in the defending champion’s 33-strong squad for the Rugby World Cup in France

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He claims that “the public doesn’t give a rat’s ass that he (Pollard) hasn’t played in 16 weeks” after including the Leicester outside half who helped win the Cup in 2019 in a small group of players who are with the squad for the games with Wales in Cardiff on 19 August and New Zealand in London on 25 August but not in the official 33.

The head coach told reporters in South Africa that “With Handre over his injury, but, in my opinion, is not fit enough to play and perform and win a Test match for you. He’s busy getting there, and remember, when we selected him, the public doesn’t give a rat’s ass that he hasn’t played in 16 weeks. He must perform, and he must be the Pollard that won the World Cup in 2019. That’s the picture of the Pollard they want.

“We’re still building him up to that, so by having four nines, Grant can cover wing, and Faf is our third choice 10. Remember, we went to the 2019 World Cup with two 10s, and Frans Steyn was our third-choice flyhalf, yet he only played in the position last year against Argentina. Everybody commented on how much of a disaster it was and why we shouldn’t have picked him at flyhalf.”

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“It’s like taking three specialist hookers to the World Cup, and you’ll find the third one won’t play much. They’ll get 15 minutes here and there, and the same is applicable to the third 10 if three 10s are taken with.

“We’re looking for a bit of both, but less than what we did up until now. We’re sitting with an experienced squad as compared to what other teams have from an age and Test caps experience.

“We thought that if they’d keep their form, we’ll probably end up where we are now in terms of age, but we know that availability can be a problem.

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“We learned that lesson the hard way in 2011 where the experience to win the tournament was there, but getting them to last through the World Cup was an issue. We’ll chop and change less in the next two games and get combinations going.”

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3 Comments
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Thomas 539 days ago

The issue is with all this deceptive double messaging, this multiplicity in their statements. A couple of weeks ago it was: "Pollard and Kolisi are such known quantities, we're always going to nominate them."

Then the nomination comes and Pollard is not included due to injury. No further comment or explanation, until a couple of days after, just to mitigate the rumour mill that had started whirring in the vacuum left by the lack of communication. Why some other players, who also had been injured had been nominated, is not explained.

Then all of a sudden it's "Pollard is past his injury, but not fit. He hasn't played in 16 weeks, and he couldn't win you a game against Vatican City." Why drag him along, then? If you expect him to get in shape for some games at the RWC, why not nominate him? If not, why drag him along and not release him instead?

I'm tired of this duplicitous messaging.

S
Sumkunn Tsadmiova 539 days ago

It is very obvious, even to us little Bulgarians. They have named 4 scrum-halves because one will drop out to make way for Pollard. Bye bye Grant Williams. It's what passes for a deviously deceptive plan in the fiendish Erasmus-world. He'll probably bring out a video about it says my friend Udum Feukwitz!

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RedWarrior 2 hours ago
The reason given by Steve Borthwick for latest England setback

So England are allowed to have a tsunami whinge fest about the ref but if an Irish fan points out that some decisions hurt Ireland also they are being petulant.

Honestly some English supporters are all politeness until they lose then the claws and fangs come out.

Ok here we go, not complaints just pointing out where England got away with roul play:

1: M Smiths headbutt on James Lowe that started the fracas with Stewart. If the ref spots that in time then thats a second yellow if not a straight red for Smith. Probably worth another 14 points with England gassed so a 41-10 final scoreline?

2: Itoje's several stamps on Hansens instep in a clear attempt to damage metatarsals. Straight red or if he is lucky, 10 in the bin.

3. Currys block on Baird to create a gap that Smith used to break the line. Penalty and possession for Ireland deep in England 22 with score at 0:0.

4: The correct decision for the Cunningham South dangerous tackle was a yellow. Lowe blew it by confronting him. The ref didn't give South or Lowe a yellow. The ref couldn't give Lowe a yellow anyway as the TMO would have informed him that m Smith alone started the previosu fracas and its not unreasonable for a player to react to being headbutted.


One last thing missing from English analysis

How is coming over to Dublin acting like you own the place, committing filthy cowardly off the ball cheap shots working out for you? I mean you clearly dont care that we think your team are a crowd of a$$holes but...... rugby wise, how is riling the Irish team to focus and get the best out of themselves against such unpleasant opposition working for you on the scoreboard?


Food for thought old boy!!!!

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