Pollard: Mitchell changes his mind

REPRIEVED: YOUNG FLYHALF REPLACES LIBBOK ON BENCH

Coach prepared for tough examination against the Sharks.

Handre Pollard has had a bit of a tragic time of it this year in rugby terms, but his luck might just be beginning to turn after the Springbok flyhalf gained a late reprieve and was given a spot on the Blue Bulls bench for their Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban tomorrow.

Bulls coach John Mitchell had said earlier in the week that he would not be using the two Springboks released from the national squad to get game time – Pollard and scrumhalf Rudy Paige – because he did not want to disrupt the continuity of the team.

But that was before Manie Libbok’s appendix flared up, forcing Mitchell to name Pollard as the replacement flyhalf to Marnitz Boshoff.

Mitchell made a couple of changes to the line-up that started against the Lions last weekend. Johnny Kotze has come in on the wing for Rabs Maxwane and Conraad van Vuuren will start at tighthead prop in place of Matthys Basson.

“We are slowly starting to come to grips with a number of structural changes and, for once, there is some continuity available in selection, something that was not possible earlier in the competition,” Mitchell said.

“The Sharks have been in awesome form and to have to travel down to Durban is not making it any easier. That said, this group is all about challenges and how we confront and handle them.” Bench:

Picture: Gallo Images BACK IN THE FRAME. Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard might get a run against the Sharks in Durban tomorrow after being named on the bench for the Currie Cup match.