Pollard named on SA 'A' bench
Pollard joins Juan de Jongh on the bench, in a team that shows wholesale changes from the matchday 23 that won the first match last Friday in Durban by 36-28. Springbok midfielder Francois Venter will lead the team.
SA 'A' coach Johan Ackermann said the reason for all the changes is to accommodate all the players in the squad while at the same time assisting Springbok coach Allister Coetzee with a request for game-time for certain players.
Only two players who started in the first match, Lwazi Mvovo and Ruan Botha, will run out again this weekend. Mvovo however moves from fullback to wing, where he will partner Blitzbok star Seabelo Senatla.
"All the players in the squad have worked incredibly hard over the last two weeks and it's just fair to give all of them a run against the French Barbarians.
"At the same time, the Springbok cause is very important with the rest of the season in mind – I spoke to Allister and I'm glad we can assist him in giving game-time to certain players who are in his plans," Ackermann said.
Ackermann said the decision to award Venter the captaincy was an easy one
"Francois has led the Cheetahs very well in recent seasons and he brings international experience to the team. He was also our vice-captain in 2016, so he's got a good idea of what we would like to achieve on the field in this match.
"Francois is one of eight players in the team who has played Test rugby for South Africa. This experience could again be vital, as we saw last week in Durban when we were with our backs against the wall, these players put their hands up and led from the front.
"There are also a number of players in this squad who I'm sure will still play for the Springboks and I've really enjoyed working with them. It's been great exposure against international opposition and they will all benefit from it," he added.
Ackermann added that players who are not in the match-23 for this encounter will remain with the squad, but will be released for Provincial Challenge duty should their provinces request that.
South African 'A': 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Uzair Cassiem, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Juan de Jongh.
Date: Friday, June 23
Venue: Orlando Stadium, Soweto
Kick-off: 20.00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Lesego Legoete, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Johan Greeff
