VIDEO: Pollard the Boks' World Cup key
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: Handre Pollard helped South Africa win a Junior world championship back in 2012 and seven years later he will again be a key player for his country at a senior World Cup.
The 24-year-old flyhalf has been through some rough patches in recent years, with numerous injuries limiting his game time.
Pollard has played in 26 Tests since his debut against Scotland, at age 20, in 2014.
However, it was in 2012 that he first burst onto the international scene.
He earned a call-up to the South African Under-20 team that won the 2012 Junior World Championship on home soil.
Despite not playing in their first match against Ireland, he started their remaining four matches. He kicked five conversions in their match against Italy and four conversions in their match against England to help secure a semifinal berth for South Africa.
Three conversions and two penalties followed in their 35–3 semifinal victory over Argentina, to see the Baby Boks through to their first ever Final – against four-time champions New Zealand. Once again, the boot of Pollard was largely responsible for their 22–16 victory in the Final – as he kicked four penalties and a drop-goal to lift the trophy for South Africa for the first time.
Pollard finished as fourth top scorer overall in the competition with 42 points.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus – speaking ahead if the first Test in a three-match series against England – said Pollard, like he was six years ago, will again be a key player in the build-up to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
“If you look at the two centres that played [against Wales in Washington] last week – Andre Esterhuizen and Jessie Kriel – and Handre Pollard, they were the No.10, No.12 and No.13 combination when the Junior Boks beat New Zealand twice in a row and won a title,” Erasmus said,
“Those boys are coming through now.
“We have split them up a bit now.
“As we go along, we will see them together in the next 16 months ahead of the World Cup [in Japan].
“We will see how that combination is evolving.”
The coach said Pollard and fellow flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be important against England on Saturday.
However, going forward, several others will also come into the World Cup frame.
“There are [also] guys like Frans Steyn and Robert [du Preez],” Erasmus said, adding: “There are a few others, [like] Damian Willemse, who is with the Junior Boks and whom we would like to have a look at.
“We are selecting teams to win, but we are also selecting teams with a view to the World Cup next year.
“Handrè Will be a vital part of the team, come the World Cup.”
@rugby365com
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