Cake Tin pressure pot for Pollard
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Heyneke Meyer will be using the Wellington Test as an opportunity to trial his young flyhalf under the most intense pressure available in world rugby ahead of the 2015 World Cup in England.
The Springbok coach made one change to his match-day 23 on Wednesday, naming Under-20 Player of the Year, Handre Pollard, at flyhalf at the expense of the experienced Morne Steyn – who drops out of the match-day squad entirely.
Meyer has rotated his two flyhalves regularly since Pollard made his debut against Scotland in June in Port Elizabeth.
However, after Pollard was whipped off against Argentina just after half-time at a wet and wild Loftus in the first match of the Rugby Championship, many would be surprised to see him straight back into the starting role, especially against the world No.1 All Blacks.
Meyer has come out in support of his young pivot stating that he needs to get a taste of some substantial pressure ahead of the World Cup where he is penciled in to play a huge part.
"It is probably a big call, but I don't see it as such – we know what we have in Morne [Steyn] and he has always done well for us," the coach said of his experienced flyhalf option.
"Even though you can't really experiment in the Championship, I have a lot of confidence in Handre [Pollard] and I want to see what he can do at the highest level.
"He is a guy I believe can play in the World Cup – he can play a big part in England.
"It is an ideal opportunity to see what he can do and for him to show us what he can do – he is a gutsy player with a lot of character and he brings something different to the team."
With time, and Test matches, steadily running out before the 2015 showpiece, Meyer is looking to get his ducks in a row early, especially when it comes to deciding on his first and second choice flyhalves.
"After the Championship we will definitely know going into the World Cup, who the first and second choice are, then we can stick with those guys," Meyer continued.
"There are not a lot of Test matches left, there are only two left at home, so you have to see what he [Pollard] can do under pressure and up against the best team in the world, it is an unbelievable challenge for him."
Waiting in the wings is Meyer's third choice flyhalf Pat Lambie who, as Meyer admits, is very low on game time.
This week, as with last, the Sharks man is on the bench after returning from a long-term bicep injury sustained in Super Rugby.
"He [Lambie] would have been an obvious choice as well to give him some game time, the only problem with Pat is that he has been injured for some time and he has not played a lot of rugby.
"It is a big risk, and you have to be sharp.
"Handre has played a lot of rugby, he has done well, I gave him a break and now it is now up to him to show that he is good enough to make the number one berth his."
The Springboks take on their arch rivals for the first time this year off the back of an agonising one point defeat against the Wallabies in Perth.
For Meyer and his charges it is an opportunity to get one over on the only team to defeat them (twice) in 2013 and to open up the Rugby Championship once more.
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