Pollard perfect pivot for Boks
Bulls man is making everyone else look good, says Stransky
● Coach Rassie Erasmus is probably the only person that knows for sure who the starting Springbok flyhalf in 2018 will be, but it would be a surprise if the Bulls’ Handré Pollard isn’t wearing No 10 in June.
Pollard, 24, started the last three tests of 2017 and is the incumbent. He is also in immaculate form for a Bulls team that is altering its DNA under coach John Mitchell.
Pollard has been central to the Bulls’ transformation from 10-man team to a 15man attacking unit and it should be an easy leap to take that transition to the test arena where the Boks are also looking to change their style.
After an injury-plagued two years Pollard is playing with swagger and skill again, demanding that he be rewarded as the Bok starting flyhalf in 2018.
“Pollard is making the players around him look really good,” says World Cup-winning flyhalf Joel Stransky. Burger Odendaal [centre] suddenly looks superb and [scrumhalf] Ivan van Zyl also looks fantastic.
“Handré likes to take the ball to the line, he is comfortable playing flat, he manages space really well and he’s kicking superbly.
“He is the best package available to South Africa. It’s a no-brainer that he has to start for the Boks. I say that with all respect to Elton Jantjies, who has played well. But if you compare the two at test level, Pollard makes better decisions.”
Pollard can’t say it openly, but he must believe he should be the man to pull the Boks’ strings this year.
He has experience — 26 test caps — and has proven a match winner at the highest level. In 2014, the last time the Boks beat the All Blacks, it was a superb display from Pollard that included two tries that set the tone.
“That was a great day in my shortish rugby career so far; probably the greatest,” Pollard says.
“Playing for the Boks at Ellis Park is great, against the All Blacks makes it better, and beating them is even better.
“That was a great day at the office, of course, but I’m always striving to be better because there is always room for improvement.
“I was just a young kid, having fun and expressing myself. I’ve learnt a lot more nearly four years later, so I’d like to think I can be even better than I was that day.”
Pollard is a strong personality, but he’s not a screamer and prefers to go about his business with calm authority rather than histrionics.
“I don’t subscribe to being a shouting and screaming-type of player, although some guys do get their energy off that,” Pollard says.
“I believe the flyhalf has to be the calmest guy on the pitch because you have to make most of the decisions. You can’t be emotional when doing that.
“I don’t have any techniques to calm myself because I’m naturally a very chilled person. Also, on the rugby field is where I’m at my happiest and feel most at home. I relish it.”
With Warren Whiteley and Eben Etzebeth injured and unlikely to feature against England
Pollard is making the players around him look really good
Joel Stransky, above
and Wales in June, Pollard’s name has been mentioned as a possible Bok captain.
He has the pedigree, having captained at every level he has played, including the Junior Springboks and Bulls. But Stransky isn’t so sure that would be a wise move.
“I hope they don’t make him Bok captain for the simple reason that he already has enormous responsibility on his shoulders. He is a natural leader and will still be one of the team’s leaders regardless of his title, as the flyhalf has to be. I just don’t think he needs the Bok captaincy right now.
“In the last couple of months, the old Pollard is back. What made him a good player in 2014 and 2015 was his fearless ability to take on the gain line. He is a general who controlled the game and he is doing that brilliantly again.
“I don’t think the two years away from the game were good for him because he missed out on so much development as a player. When he first came back after all those injuries he looked cumbersome, which was to be expected.
“It took him a while to get back to being the Pollard we were used to seeing. But he’s there now,” says Stransky.