Pollard ready for the Lions
POLLARD: SPENT PLENTY TIME IN COVID QUARANTINE ANALYSING THE LIONS
Flyhalf knows it will be a series that will come down to physicality and control of set-pieces.
The good news for the Springboks is that flyhalf Handre Pollard is okay to play in the first Test against the British and Irish Lions. Even though he was in quarantine, he was still putting the time to good use by doing plenty of analysis on their opposition in Cape Town on Saturday.
Pollard, one of the main architects of the 2019 World Cup triumph, was one of the Springboks who tested positive for Covid, but his brush with the virus has not been serious.
“I feel good, luckily I didn’t have any symptoms and I was able to get through the 10 days of quarantine quite easily. I’m ready to go and, as a team, there’s no way we’re not going to be ready. We’re the world champions playing against the British and Irish Lions, so we will be emotionally and physically ready. We’ve had hard weeks of training, we are so ready,” Pollard said yesterdaty.
“The Lions have quality players everywhere and we were analysing them as hard as we could when we were stuck in isolation. So we have a good idea of what’s
coming, it helps to pick up small cues and what their individual tendencies are. I’m sure they’re doing the same on us too. So after some good time spent on mental preparation and analysis, this week it’s back to physical training,” added Pollard.
Pollard did a fine job of being South Africa’s general in the 2019 World Cup, where their successful strategy was built around forward power and suffocating defence to boss the gain-line, deft kicking to exploit space and then ruthless finishing to capitalise on the forced mistakes.
Over the weekend, certain critics described it as being “boring”, to which Pollard had an excellent response yesterday.
“That’s the most beautiful thing in the world to see, apart
from my wife. Throwing the ball around is nice for the people watching on TV, but ourselves and the Lions probably play pretty similar games – it’s going to come down to physicality and the set-pieces, as it usually does in these big Tests. The flyhalf always plays a big role too in providing direction, steering the ship.
“It’s going to be a big series, but nothing changes – I still have to do my job first before worrying about the other guys. I have to make sure we’re playing in the right areas,” Pollard said.
Backline coach Mzwandile Stick acknowledged that having the 27-year-old Pollard available is excellent news: “Handre has got massive experience and as coaches, we always appreciate that kind of experience.”