Rassie: Pollard isn't Superman

09/24/2023 11:26 AM

Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Handre Pollard will play in South Africa’s final pool match against Tonga, but says perspective is needed on the Boks’ goal-kicking woes.

South Africa’s inconsistent goal-kicking was exposed in the World Cup defeat to Ireland on Saturday night, which saw the Springboks miss an opportunity to go top of Pool B.

Flyhalf Manie Libbok and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk combined to miss three penalties and a conversion for a total of 11 points.

The erratic goal-kicking performance resulted in calls for fit-again general Pollard to be given a place in the starting lineup for the rest of the campaign. Pollard, who finished as the 2019 World Cup’s top point-scorer, only recently returned to action following a calf injury which saw him left out of the original 33-man squad.

“You have to see things in perspective. Handre Pollard is not Superman,” Erasmus explained.

“Four weeks ago he was totally not ready to play rugby. He hasn't even run full pace four or five weeks ago. He has only played 40 minutes of rugby. He can't just come on the field and do goal-kicking; he must tackle, pass, do kick-offs, sidestep, do hand-offs, clean out at the rucks.

“People think we didn't pick Handre Pollard because we didn't want to. That's not the case. Handre was injured. He has only had 40 minutes of rugby and a week of training with us last week. This week will now be full-on contact where he doesn't sit out a session. That's why I said he wasn't up for selection last week.

“But we were always going to rotate the squad for the Tonga match so he's definitely up for selection for this match.”

Erasmus also moved to defend Libbok, who set up South Africa’s only try of the match and has embraced the playmaking responsibilities despite only making his Test debut last November.

“If you weigh up the different things Manie does… it is like Deon Fourie's lineout throwing. I think he got four lineouts and one not straight, but the scrums went really well. Manie is obviously in a bit of a dip with his goal-kicking. He knows it, we know it, the world knows it, everybody keeps on talking about it.

“When Faf [de Klerk] took one kick from 55 metres, he hit the upright and we almost scored from it. Faf is a really good goal-kicker but he is not always going to be on the field.

“Handre is playing this weekend, but let's see first of all how Handre does the other stuff in the game,” Erasmus added. “Does he get through it on the contact side of things? I am sure he'll also take some time to find his rhythm with his kicking under pressure.

“The Tonga one will be a great test for him as a yardstick to see where he is before we go – if we go – into those quarter-finals, and who will be on the field.

“Manie is certainly playing brilliant flyhalf rugby at the moment, obviously his goal-kicking is not matching that at this stage.”

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

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