Pollard's journey comes full circle to help Boks unlock full potential

VIDEO: Handre Pollard is back in South Africa for good, and don’t believe for a second that he doesn’t think he has enough in him to go to the next World Cup.

Late in February, it was announced that the Bulls signed the Springbok flyhalf, bringing him back full circle to the franchise where he started his rugby.

The Pretoria side beat offers from Japan to get the double World Cup back in South Africa.

Pollard had spent three years with Leicester Tigers, and last month he was in action as his Tigers faced Bath in the Final of the Premiership.

It was not to be for the Tigers, as Bath won their first title since 1996, three years after finishing bottom of the Premiership.

Now Pollard is back in South Africa to step into the No.10 boots for the Bulls, the team that helped shape him as a junior.

“This team and franchise have always had a special place in my heart, and I can’t see myself anywhere else in South Africa,” Pollard said when the announcement of his signing with the Bulls was made.

That was how he described the reason for his decision to rejoin the Bulls.

Pollard’s youth career is the story of a generational rugby talent who dominated every level he played, long before becoming a Springbok World Cup winner. He had set himself apart as one of the finest young players in world rugby.

He spent three years with the Tigers and, at 31, is not yet ready to hang up the boots.

Pollard starts at flyhalf for the Springboks against Italy at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

On Wednesday, facing reporters at the Springbok hotel, he was asked if he was ending his career at Loftus now that he is back in South Africa, and jokingly asked: “Who said I am ending my career at Loftus?

“I’m just excited to come back to South Africa and to play rugby in South Africa. This time it’s for real.

“It’s great to be back in camp with the guys. It’s such a special place, such a special vibe. I’m just trying to enjoy every moment.

“For now, the focus is solely on Italy.”

Pollard believes that the Springboks have more to improve on, especially in terms of attack. It all starts this weekend against Italy, a team for which the flyhalf has immense respect.

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“For a few years, defence was overpowering everything and guys had to get a lot more creative on attack, and now you are seeing that teams’ attacking games are getting better and teams are scoring a lot more points, which is making it more difficult for defences,” he elaborated.

“We enjoy it as players. Every team has its own way of doing it, but we trust ours and we think it is the best for us as a team. But it is a good thing, and I’m sure the supporters enjoy it as well.

“It’s tough when you have to defend against it, but trust me, it is a good thing.”

Pollard said the team hasn’t “unlocked” their potential just yet, but they are moving in the right direction. And he highlighted the role of assistant coach Tony Brown.

“With Brownie, every week is a next step. He is such an evolving coach and is always looking for something extra. It is really refreshing working with him; it is a lot of fun.

“We haven’t unlocked all our potential yet, and I think this team has a lot more in it, but again, it will take time, but the more we play together, the more it will come together.

“We have unbelievable players; the more time and space we can create for the players outside, the better.

Who knows what would have happened if it weren’t for Handré Pollard 🇿🇦 #RWC2023 | @Springboks pic.twitter.com/Kr8cDnRe4p

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) May 18, 2025

“Defences are still key to winning World Cups and competitions. That will be the core fundamental of any team, still, as well as a kicking game. I just think there was a lot of room for improvement on attack over the last few years,” Pollard said.

“Back in the day, the New Zealand teams may have been unlocking that a bit earlier, and we were trusting our defence and kicking game at that time.

“We have since seen there is another layer to us, and we can unlock our attack as well. It is not massive, it is not crazy, but it is just minor adjustments here and there.

“At the core of our game will always be our physicality and being direct. That is who we are as a nation and as a team, and we will never shy away from that. Our set-piece dominance is going to be key to any game we are going to play.

“But if we can sprinkle something extra onto our attack, just to take us to the next level, that is our goal.”