South Africa flyhalf Handre Pollard insists his side will be ready for the British & Irish Lions Test series, which starts on Saturday, despite disruptive preparations that included a cancelled warm-up game and COVID-19 infections in their camp.
This is despite uncertainty over the availability of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who faces a medical examination to assess his fitness for Saturday’s first Test at the Cape Town Stadium.
“There is no way we are not going to be ready, playing against the British & Irish Lions, playing for your country,” Pollard told a news conference on Monday.
“Emotionally, physically we are all fine. We’ve had hard weeks of training. The way we train is harder than the game, so we’ll be ready for whatever comes our way on Saturday.”
Pollard was among 14 Springboks and six coaching staff who contracted the COVID-19 virus after the first of two Tests against Georgia at the start of the month. The second game was cancelled while the players had to isolate in their rooms.
The 27-year-old said he had been asymptomatic but been forced to restrict his preparation to video analysis and some workout in his room.
“I didn’t have any symptoms, so I got back to training pretty quickly. Physically I’m OK. It was very strict once we went into the COVID wing of the hotel. The first five, six days were spent in the room, giving your body time to fight whatever it’s got to fight. Then we were provided with the necessary gym equipment in our rooms.”
Pollard, a key element of the Springbok’s World Cup winning squad, said it allowed him to stay on top of his physical condition.
“It was not about training hard or getting fit but just about balancing it out and not losing what you already have.”
As for the three-Test series, he did not feel there were any secrets or significant differences between the two teams.
“I thought they (the touring Lions) weren’t challenged as hard as they probably would have liked in those first few (tour) games. But we saw glimpses here and there of what they do when they are under pressure, and they are probably expecting more of that.
“I don’t think it’s a big secret of what’s coming. The two sides will play pretty similar games and it’s going to come down to the physicality, set pieces and the basics. It always comes back down to that when it’s big Test match rugby,” Pollard added.
Kolisi and World Cup winning winger Makazole Mapimpi are to be examined on Monday to see whether they are clear to play in Saturday’s first test after returning positive COVID-19 tests a fortnight ago, officials added.
Harry Jones
Expert
Amazing at club level
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I'm liking the the element of doubt in your post Harry. Rassie has been basking in the light of master motivator and prescient plotter since that RWC final. Gatland's starting pack is predictable. Maybe Rassie has a cunning plan .......
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I feel like the Boks are able, with their bench, to chase down or finish off the lions as the forwards will get stronger especially when the reserve props/hooker come on.
Mike lopez 23
Guest
I'm sick and tired of all you guys so called experts gunning Elton Jantjies ..Jantjies was picked as the most successful super rugby player ever in South africa .You can try to spin it whichever way ,but the stats dont lie . .Go look at the stats ..Swys the boks former attacking coach will kill for the guy .Look at the world cup final and semi final .who was the guy Rassie and Management entrusted with running the water duties and setting up the robots lights on the field .Go look When the guy is on song and directing the ship ..Jantjies is a seriously good rugby player.when he played for my beloved stormers .his father passed away that year and Toetie was a following a very conservative game plan.Than pls let Rassie and management pick the team because they put respect back to the jersey.In Rassie and team we trust .As rassie said sometimes you dont pick the best player because sometimes hes entitled and arrogant.
Harry Jones
Expert
Oddly, I think the Bok bench can do exactly that (except for Elton): launch a comeback. No blerry idea why Trevor is starting. He is a penalty magnet.
Harry Jones
Expert
NB: On paper, both coaching teams made errors. I agree Daly is a bit of an asset for the Boks at that crucial 13 spot. Look for Am-Kolbe-Willie and even Faf to try to find him and force decisions. But the Boks have put a flyhalf-sized number eight (Kwagga) and a smallish Kolisi up against Lawes and Conan. Also, Furlong v Ox doesn't make me happy; nor Nyakane the pancake starting. I'm also counting on Hogg and Price to make severe stuffups. But then, if Pollard has to go off, we are cooked. Elton and Cape Town does not mix. Who knows!
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yes, agree about Nowell, maybe even as full-back, where Baxter was starting him ahead of Hogg. If Marler, Tuilagi, and Nowell are back fit and firing, plus a rejuvenated Cokanasiga, maybe Smith coming of age, and the Saracens players back to their best, England will be formidable in the 6 Nations.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Copy paste from Stuff NZ this morning.
Harry Jones
Expert
Nicely played, NB!
Harry Jones
Expert
Well, the oddest thing of all is the front row Nienaber is sending out first to be devoured by the Lions. Trevor Nyakane and Ox Nche are mobile props, but scrumming specialists they are not. Perhaps the thought is to bring Kitshoff and Malherbe on at the first opportunity either of Trev or Ox falter, but I don't love the idea.
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
I have my doubts over the Boks' ability to chase down a win so here's hoping they get in front. The Lions will know it too so will be doing everything in their power to stop that from happening. Going to be physical, there will be injuries and probably a card or two.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Still some question marks over players FB (at 8) and holes (at 9) but as always with England, Jones has an uncanny ability to produce a lot less than the sum of the parts at times. His sides can often look good on paper ..... Talking of injuries, I really hope Jack gets in an injury free season. Not just because he richly deserves one, but because he's been a massive miss to England's back line and it's balance. An even bigger miss than Manu.
adastra32
Roar Rookie
Not sure AWJ would appreciate the England tag! This team could well do it - but then so could three or four other combinations according to many pundits.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I was confused about Kwagga? Genuine player with a lot of skill but surprised to see him there - especially at 8. I remember the Lions had him at 7 (or 6, depending on the way you look at it) in Super rugby and could see him fir well into that smaller, faster, fetcher-link player ala Hooper, but in the team you guys have announced it seems the odd one out. Still, plenty of quality there and you guys definitely have the edge in the backs imo. I wonder how Duhan will go under the highballs from Faf, Handre and Le Roux and if Ali Price will deliver the consistency Conor Murray has proven to be able to do? After the 'A' performance you have my tip.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yep, I do think some politics has come into this selection. The Welsh players haven’t set the world alight on this tour, but if you’d played Mako and George, there’d be too few Welsh, and the ‘valleys’ would have exploded. The team just looks a bit underwhelming to me. I think the England team that could (injuries permitting) line up for the next 6 Nations will look stronger than this Lions side, which is a bit of a worry.
Harry Jones
Expert
I don’t love Kwagga. Love him at club level. Love his fire. Speed. But at test level against the Lions? He can’t tackle Lawes or Beirne one on one. My only thought is Nienaber wants him to play sweeper like Faf and get into the passing lanes and get over any tackled ball (snaffle Duhan and Hogg, who are bad at cutback/present).
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
My biggest worry was impact off the bench and a 6/2 split, which is now not the case as he's gone 5/3 - but I'd still like more impact. Still have a concern with Daly in midfield as his defence isn't great and for me nearly always seems to have more impact in a 30 minute bench cameo than when he gets the 80. Williams doesn't offer that so much for me, but he could bring something. Farrell and Murray smell more of controlling a game than swinging it back, but Sinks and Watson could raise the tempo when introduced. Sutherland hasn't convinced me on tour with his scrummaging so Vunipola would have been my preferred bencher, as he has a surprisingly good off load game if the game breaks up. I'd also have George over Owens, not least because The Sheriff always seems to have a crucial line out miss in him - but I just picked an all English replacement front row, so I guess I have to question myself?! Other than that, looks a reasonable enough selection to have a crack first up. Now let's see if the sum of the parts at least equals the whole as they play together for the first time.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Yeah, Am and Kolbe looked great in the game last week. Am just looks better the more responsibility he gets. The Boks most def have the upper hand at the halves and the midfield. Have a sneaky feeling that the Boks might go all-out attack and give the Lions a surprise of a lifetime. On the other hand, the Lions pack looks like a pack ready to go to battle with the Boks, which might give the Boks a surprise. I picked my Lions 23 yesterday on NBs coach corner column and to my big surprise, I almost got it all "right". Weird feeling to not have anything to complain about regarding the selection.
Harry Jones
Expert
Daly and Duhan might struggle to keep Am and Kolbe in front of them. But I think the pack is well selected.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
The team has been confirmed now, NB.