Handre Pollard has only featured in four Springbok Tests so far this year, one of which was coming off the bench against lowly Georgia.
The double World Cup winner did start in the crucial Cape Town Test against the Wallabies, and scored 15 points in a solid all-round performance, which is just what the Springboks needed at that time.
However, he didn’t have his best game when he started at flyhalf as the Springboks fell to a narrow defeat against the All Blacks at Eden Park, and it was after this game that Rassie Erasmus opted to shake things up with the backline.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu came in at 10 and has been simply sensational since then, while Manie Libbok has been equally impressive when he has slotted in at flyhalf over the last couple of games.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Libbok understandably retain their places in the matchday 23 for this Saturday’s Test, and so Handre Pollard will have to make-do with once again watching from the sidelines.
So what next for Springbok stalwart Handre Pollard?
Rassie Erasmus has sought to insist that there is sound logic behind the selection decisions at flyhalf.
“Sacha and Manie can learn things from this game that we know Handré can already do,” said Erasmus. “It may be a risk, but the benefit for the team going forward could be massive.
“They’ve also got the benefit of experienced guys like Jesse [Kriel] coming off the bench who can help if needed.
“I think the time we have to prepare (for this Saturday’s game) is really short,” he added. “We only flew out on Sunday and arrived in London on Monday, with just two training sessions. That’s one of the reasons (for the selection continuity). But we’re also trying to build the young guys up and take them from one step to another.
“Handré is definitely sacrificing this weekend, but we know that going forward we’ll have three flyhalves who can really do the job for us under pressure,” Erasmus concluded.
HOW THE TEAM WILL LINE UP
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jesse Kriel.
