Pollard near flawless in first match with the seniors
HANDRE Pollard made the progression to Test rugby look easy on Saturday, and his first touch in a Springbok jersey summed up his potential brilliance in an instant.
He received a pressured pass from scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, which cut his time on the ball and his options to almost zero with the Scottish defence flying at him.
Instead of indecision or panic, Pollard calmly collected the ball and accelerated violently into contact, surprising the two defenders who had rushed up to “welcome” him to Test rugby. The tacklers went back several metres and Pollard placed the ball for another quick Bok ruck that led to the opening try by flank Marcell Coetzee after only three minutes.
Pollard went on to kick five conversions and a penalty for a personal haul of 13 points as the Boks romped to a 55-6 victory, but his effect on the game was far greater than a double-figure points haul.
The World Junior Player of the Year hardly put a foot wrong. He kicked accurately for touch, ran on to the ball with pace and power, created space for his outside backs with fizzing passes and success- fully landed six out of eight shots at goal. Two of those were from the touchline.
It was an impressive start to his senior international career, but the Scotland faced by the Boks are a limited side less gifted than an average Super Rugby team. The All Blacks, Wallabies and a fullstrength Argentina will prove a far more difficult prospect.
But at 20, Pollard already has the tools to cope and the maturity to understand that dominating Scotland is only the first step on a path that hopefully brings success for him and the team.
“Super Rugby prepares you very well for Test rugby,” Pollard said after the match. “It’s very fast and physical, but there will be better sides … and that will be a step up. It was a nice way to be introduced to Test rugby, though.”