Get Newsletter

'Best strike of my life' - Pollard on that famous #RWC semifinal kick

WATCH as Jim Hamiton chats to Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard during a small snippet of his Big Jim Show on RugbyPass TV.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the interview, the double World Cup winner Pollard takes the Scotland international Hamilton through the moment when he kicked the winning penalty for the Springboks in the World Cup 2023 semifinal against England.

Having trailed for most of the match, it took a 77th-minute long-range penalty from Pollard to steer the Boks to the famous 16-15 victory.

England enjoyed a 15-6 lead until the 70th minute. However, a try by RG Snyman instigated one of the greatest comebacks.

The Boks were awarded a late penalty, and without hesitation, Pollard stepped up to slot the kick from more than 50 metres out – kicking his team to a one-point win.

“In that moment of putting the ball down, for me it’s excitement, I love it,” Pollard told Hamilton during the Big Jim Show.

“I love those moments. It gets me really excited. It’s the most alive you will feel on a rugby field, at least that’s how I feel as a flyhalf and kicker. There’s all that pressure on you to kick that kind of kick.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I just enjoy it. It’s really fun. For the first time ever in my career, when I got to my mark, as I got back there, I looked up and for a split second in my mind I was thinking, ‘Geez, this is going to be pretty cool if it goes over’.

“I have never had that thought. It was just the mind space that I was in at that moment.

“It was the best strike of my life. It was unreal. I will probably kick another 1000 kicks and I won’t kick anything like that.”

*Please don’t forget to catch Jim Hamilton on the Big Jim Show this weekend on RugbyPass TV

ADVERTISEMENT

The Scotland star will be live pitch-side at the Champions Cup game between Leicester Tigers and Leinster. 

Join free

Round 1 Highlights | Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby 2024/25

New Zealand v England | Highlights | WXV 1

South Africa v Australia | Highlights | WXV 2

Boks Office | Episode 25 | The Rugby Championship Review

This rugby team could beat any side in the world?! | Team of the Tournament | No Pads All Studs | Ep 5

Next of Kin: Laamb

Fiji v Japan | Extended Highlights | Pacific Nations Cup

Chasing The Sun 2 | Episode 1

Samoa v USA | Extended Highlights | Pacific Nations Cup

All Blacks | In Their Own Words S2 | Trailer

Write A Comment