Pollard open to No 12 place

Rudolph Jacobs

After regaining his best kicking form last week, Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard (above) is not against the possibility of backing up at inside centre this weekend in the big rematch with the All Blacks at his home ground.

In the Boks’ recent victory over New Zealand in Wellington, the combination of Elton Jantjies at 10 and Pollard at 12 worked well when both centres Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am left the field injured.

“I am firstly a flyhalf, which is my first choice definitely, but it’s good to have an option at 12 as cover as one never knows what the situation might be,” Pollard said yesterday.

“I’m very excited about this weekend and we have always spoken about what a big occasion it will be to be playing the All Blacks at a packed Loftus.”

Succeeding with all five of his kicks at goal against Australia in Port Elizabeth last week, scoring 13 points and lifting his Test tally to 278 points in his 34th Test, Pollard also had the physical build to be a powerful inside centre.

“The times I have played at 12, I have really enjoyed playing there and I have been playing there on occasion over a number of years at the Bulls,” Pollard said.

“Whether it’s through injury or a tactical move, I have no problem moving there.”

Pollard also gave Embrose Papier a vote of confidence, despite the 21-year-old scrumhalf not being able to add to his three Test caps from the bench in PE.

“I have a lot of faith in him. He is a young talent and he is getting into the system nice and slowly, which will help him grow in confidence, playing him a bit here and there,” Pollard said.