South Africa coaching director Rassie Erasmus has tried to cool the Handre Pollard hype after missed kicks contributed to the Springboks’ loss to Ireland in their Pool B clash.
The Boks left 11 points missed from the tee in a 13-8 defeat that gave Ireland the inside running to top the group. Two misses each from Manie Libbok and Faf de Klerk have led to a fans’ clamour for the return of Pollard, who was added to the group late after recovering from injury.
“You have to see things in perspective. Handre Pollard is not Superman,” said Erasmus on Sunday.
“Four weeks ago he was totally not ready to play rugby. He hasn’t even run full pace four or five weeks ago.
“He has only played 40 minutes of rugby. He can’t just come on the field and do goal-kicking; he must tackle, pass, do kick-offs, sidestep, do hand-offs, clean out at the rucks.
(Photo by Clive Rose – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
“People think we didn’t pick Handre Pollard because we didn’t want to. That’s not the case. Handre was injured. He has only had 40 minutes of rugby and a week of training with us last week. This week will now be full-on contact where he doesn’t sit out a session. That’s why I said he wasn’t up for selection last week.”
Erasmus said Libbok added in areas beyond goal kicking.
“If you weigh up the different things Manie does… it is like Deon Fourie’s lineout throwing. I think he got four lineouts and one not straight, but the scrums went really well,” Erasmus said.
“Manie is obviously in a bit of a dip with his goal-kicking. He knows it, we know it, the world knows it, everybody keeps on talking about it. When Faf [de Klerk] took one kick from 55 metres, he hit the upright and we almost scored from it. Faf is a really good goal-kicker but he is not always going to be on the field.”
Erasmus said Pollard would likely play against Tonga this weekend.
“Handre is playing this weekend, but let’s see first of all how Handre does the other stuff in the game,” Erasmus said.
“Does he get through it on the contact side of things? I am sure he’ll also take some time to find his rhythm with his kicking under pressure. The Tonga one will be a great test for him as a yardstick to see where he is before we go – if we go – into those quarter-finals, and who will be on the field.
Handre Pollard (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
“Manie is certainly playing brilliant fly-half rugby at the moment, obviously his goal-kicking is not matching that at this stage.”
Erasmus was sanguine about the defeat.
“The negatives are that we were building nice momentum. Although we know the Tonga game will be a tough one, as the Scotland game will be for Ireland, that will probably determine who will be number one or two or three in the pool,” said Erasmus.
“I thought Scotland was always going to be a slippery game and it might be a tough one for Ireland as well, and so can Tonga be for us. Getting one [losing bonus] point out of the game is a bit of a positive, but losing the match is a negative.
“There were 11 points out there which we couldn’t kick. I don’t know how many teams have kept Ireland to 13 points, but it is the first time we haven’t scored double figures against them since way back. So it was a great tussle between the number one and two teams in the world. Now it is about focusing on the next game to see if we can get out of the pool.”
He rejected suggestions that the loss had added undue pressure on their campaign.
“Certain departments functioned very well against the number one team in the world, who had won 15 games in a row,” Erasmus said.
“We came within three points of them last year and this time it was five points. At the end we had an opportunity to snatch the match away but I think they deservedly won the game. You just want to get out of your pool. I think it would be brave to say you want France or New Zealand in the quarter-finals. We will let destiny decide that because they’re both formidable opponents.
“There’s no added pressure because the pressure was always to get out of this slippery pool. We will see how Scotland get on against Tonga later. But it doesn’t add pressure. It is nice to see how different combinations are working and things are starting to come together but there were two or three obvious departments [which didn’t work so well].”
CheetahBok
Roar Rookie
Anomaly maybe, fact is when it is on, Pollard is quite capable of igniting the backline too.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
only need look at how he went at Montpellier where he fell behind Garbsi. The Tigers coach who signed him is now the England coach who still wants to play 10 man rugby. Pollard is very good at what he does but Libbok is also very good and what he does. The question is what does Rassie want. WC final in 2019 was an anomally in terms of SA style when Pollard plays just like Libboks kicking v NZ.
CheetahBok
Roar Rookie
Yeah right, of course they did :stoked:
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
It was interesting how much the Bok game plan for Ireland changed from the suffocating maul heavy game plan they used again the All Blacks. Against Ireland they almost didn’t use the maul as a weapon. Maybe the Boks didn’t want to play their hand. Of the two teams the Boks were more enterprising and far more prepared to play rugby in their own half, which is not the typical Bok game. I expect to see a return of the low risk suffocating game plan (knock-out rugby) next week and in the pool stage. I am not sure if Pollard will be ready, but there are few that can execute such a plan better than him.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Tigers signed him to play 10 man rugby.
CheetahBok
Roar Rookie
Maybe just watch the 2019 final, you can decide for yourself how good Pollard is. Think Pollard will flourish in the current game plan, he runs hard at the line. You can also ask the backers of Leicester Tigers why they are prepared to pay top drawer for Pollard? In 2019, the Boks had little time after COVID to prep for a WC and they played to a specific strategy.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I do like that Rassie does not rush players back which I think is important. We have seen to many players coming back from injury put in a game to early and does terrible or worse aggravates his injury. It was a group game that probably means SA don't play NZ who they don't have a great record against. Sheehan for Ireland people called to have him start which only got louder after the line out issues but not overplaying his minutes was not worth any risk. We saw what Whitelock did with Saders and the knock on effect for for NZ.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
He is there for his running and with him at 10 they opened up Scotland and denied them a LBP. How good are SA at scoring tries with Pollard. NZ did the same with BB which only became an issue when they lost but when they won everyone praises the running 10.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
While I know many will not be to familiar of SA players since they left SR but anyone who thinks the Dewba would have done better at the lineout has not watched any of his games. He is about 50/50 for each throw in. Of the 11 points left 2 were from inside their own half one of which hit the post and set up a scoring chance. What I don't understand is when you know you have good kickers from hand to the corner but poor at goal and your lineouts is far better why you wouldn't kick the two Faf penalties to the corner. Ireland turned down three kicks at goal only to lose the ball so swings and roundabouts. Not sure David W would have played as well as he did on Saturday if Pollard was at 10.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Sensible and intelligent approach as usual. Didn’t raise expectations and honest. Pollard is a class player but will need at least a game or two to reach too form.
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
The reality is that Manie was never a good kicker.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
Well commented Erasmus - this thinking shows why the Boks are such a good squad.