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Handre Pollard will make his debut for the Springboks against Scotland this weekend in Port Elizabeth.
Morne Steyn has returned to France, providing Heyneke Meyer an enforced chance to select the young Pollard, who was voted Player of the Tournament at the recently concluded Junior World Cup.
There is a belief among many South Africans that Handre Pollard can become the missing link in the pivot position for South Africa.
Although cautiously more realistic, I do hold some hope that Pollard impresses against Scotland, as South Africa desperately need to improve on their nine and ten axis before the Rugby World Cup next year.
Meyer himself is rather enamored with Pollard, saying, “Handre is a very talented player and has a big opportunity this week, but he’ll have Fourie du Preez’s experience next to him, while he’s played a lot with Jan Serfontein before.
“It’s great to have the current and a former World Junior Player of the Year in the same backline.”
Meyer said Pollard had always been part of his plans for the series, but that his selection as South Africa’s under-20 captain meant he could only join the squad this week.
Due to injuries to Patrick Lambie and Johan Goosen, Marntz Boshoff will be on the bench as back up for Pollard.
Uncapped Marcel van der Merwe (prop), Stephan Lewies (lock), Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoje (loose forward) are also added to the bench, bringing the number of uncapped players in the matchday 23 to 5.
The Springbok team to face Scotland in Port Elizabeth is:
15 Willie le Roux – 14 caps, 30 Test points
14 Cornal Hendricks – 2 caps, 10 Test points
13 JP Pietersen – 53 caps, 80 Test points
12 Jan Serfontein – 11 caps, 5 Test points
11 Lwazi Mvovo – 8 caps, 5 Test points
10 Handre Pollard – uncapped
9 Fourie du Preez (vice-captain) – 69 caps, 75 Test points
8 Duane Vermeulen – 18 caps, 10 Test points
7 Schalk Burger – 70 caps, 65 Test points
6 Marcell Coetzee – 15 caps, 5 Test points
5 Victor Matfield (captain) – 112 caps, 35 Test points
4 Lood de Jager – 2 caps, 0 Test points
3 Jannie du Plessis – 53 caps, 5 Test points
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) – 59 caps, 45 Test points
1 Coenie Oosthuizen – 16 caps, 10 Test points
Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss – 33 caps, 25 Test points
17 Trevor Nyakane – 3 caps, 5 Test points
18 Marcel van der Merwe – uncapped
19 Stephan Lewies – uncapped
20 Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje – uncapped
21 Francois Hougaard – 27 caps, 20 Test points
22 Marnitz Boshoff – uncapped
23 Zane Kirchner – 28 caps, 25 Test points
Whether these changes are forced due to the unavailability of the overseas players or not, it is good to see a local team (bar Fourie du Preez) taking the field, and great to see a few youngsters getting an opportunity.
The only shortcoming is the fact that there is still no place for Cobus Reinach in the starting team.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.