Pollard on aerial contest: 'We are the best in the world'

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard believes his team is the best in the business when it comes to the aerial side of the game.

South Africa’s game plan has once again received plenty of criticism after their 17-19 defeat to the All Blacks.

Even when they were deep inside the All Blacks’ half on attack, the Springboks seemed intent on contesting high balls rather than keeping possession and working the ball through the phases.

Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber said that kicking is his team’s “DNA” and Pollard drove that point home during an online press conference this week.

“We have a specific DNA that we believe we are the best at,” said Pollard.

“We trust our processes and we trust our plan.

“Of course, it is a bit different to do stuff like that but that was the plan we had for last week’s Test match and the boys stuck to it very well.

“When it comes to the aerial contest, we think we are the best in the world and that is something we work hard on.

“I think we will keep doing it because trust our process and we trust our plan. It is a bit unorthodox I guess, but we believe in it.”

Story continues below…

#⃣NEWS: #RugbyChampionship teams – including the @AllBlacks and @Springboks – have reportedly been ordered back into a training bubble and restricted to their hotels#Rugby 🏉@SanzarTRC 🥇#NZLvRSA 🇳🇿V🇿🇦#AUSvARG🇦🇺V🇦🇷
🔗https://t.co/ceoa5uzBuK

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 29, 2021

Bok confidence

Saturday’s defeat was the Boks’ third in a row in this year’s Rugby Championship, but Pollard said the confidence is still strong in the squad ahead of their second clash against the All Blacks.

“You would think losing a couple on the road will dent your confidence, but we just have so much belief in the process and we get confidence from preparation and we get confidence from each other,” Pollard added:

“We don’t really look back at results even if we won the previous week. We just put all our energy and focus into our plan, which gives us confidence.

“I think the boys have been brilliant. Yes, we have lost a few on the trot but with the intent, the energy and the preparation, you still try to train exactly the same.

“The results are just not going our way, but we will give our everything on Saturday.”

@rugby365com