Pollard is helping drive Boks onwards
The Springboks’ convincing victory against the Pumas in Salta ensured they clinched the Rugby Championship and some silverware for the first time since 2009. From a South African perspective, it was brilliant and the timing could not have proved better with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon.
It was an outstanding achievement from a squad that is looking pretty ominous.
Having struggled against the Pumas in Argentina in the past, I believe the point of difference is that this Springbok squad has now had time together.
Moreover, complete and proper strategies and plans have been put together over the last couple of years and it’s starting to reap the rewards.
From the outset, the Springbok performances were up and down in many ways. However, it’s amazing what time in the middle and consistency in terms of selection can do.
South Africa boast quality players who are coached very well. It was pleasing to see the men in green and gold progress as the four-team tournament unfolded.
All the consistently successful teams have been together for a while. However, it’s a mix of having quality players and being together for an extended period of time. That was the case as far as the World Cup-winning Springbok class of 2007 was concerned. The Springboks in their current guise are a far younger crop of players but are an equally exciting group.
Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has in part attributed the turnaround to ownership of performance from the players.
Rassie is one of those guys who have been there and done that not too long ago as a player. He knows what it means to provide players with ownership and the benefit of Siya Kolisi having been injured and unavailable for the Rugby Championship is that it has allowed other leaders to stand up and assume the mantle. Handré Pollard has proved one such case in point.
Pollard, who contributed 31 points against Argentina, has arguably been the standout player of the tournament.
Pollard, 25, brings so much to the set-up in terms of his physicality and the way in which he manages the game.
At the conclusion of the World Cup, he is heading abroad to play for Montpellier. It’s a shame for South African rugby because he is still so young and has much to offer at franchise level.
However, he definitely won’t be lost to the South African national team because a player of his calibre and quality is second to none.
Pollard is right up there with the best fly-halves in world rugby and sits comfortably alongside the likes of Johnny Sexton, Owen Farrell and
Beauden Barrett who I believe should be playing at No.10 not No.15.
In terms of the coaching set-up, the Springboks have suffered a disruption with the departure of attack consultant Swys de Bruin. De Bruin decided to vacate his role owing to “personal and medical reasons”.
The correct
decision has definitely been made because you don’t want a guy involved in the system if it’s not good for him health-wise. In terms of sourcing a suitable replacement, I don’t think the Springboks will bring in someone who is going to try and reinvent the wheel.
The systems are in place and it’s about someone coming in, running with it and adding value where they can. There has been talk of Felix Jones taking over as a consultant having worked with Rassie at Munster.
I don’t foresee the late change being a massive hiccup for the Boks because there is a clear strategy in place and whoever comes in will compliment that.
When Jake White roped in Eddie Jones it reaped the benefits and Rassie is looking to do something similar in terms of what happened back then. He will be looking at the calibre of person he brings in to compliment his style and strategy.
The new attack consultant might also question certain things which would be healthy for the environment.
Rassie is not going to employ someone just for the sake of it and because of name. Felix Jones, comes with great credibility and, while I haven’t had any personal experience of him, I have played in tournaments in which he has been involved as an opposition coach. Until recently, he was part of an outstanding Munster unit. Having worked with Erasmus, Jones ticks a massive box as they probably share similar mindsets and views on how to play the game. Jones is only 32 and it seems coaches are getting younger and younger.
These days, many of the coaches are younger than the players but it’s great as it offers fresh blood. Felix Jones has cut his teeth and has already served at a top level for some time, having joined the Munster coaching team ahead of the 2016/17 season.
“Pollard is up there with the best fly-halves in world rugby, Sexton, Farrell and Barrett”