Ex Supersport:
Springbok captain Victor Matfield on Friday paid tribute to the talents of Handre Pollard, the South African under-20 flyhalf who walked away with the IRB Junior World Championship player of the tournament award in New Zealand.
The award will come as little consolation to Pollard, who led the Junior Springbok team that lost the final at Eden Park by the narrowest of margins, with England winning 21-20.
The senior Bok press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against Wales in Nelspruit was held up as the game in New Zealand wound down to an exciting conclusion.
“Unfortunately we were putting on a lot of pressure there but we just weren’t able to get over the line,” said Matfield.
“But I still think there are some very special players in that Junior Bok team and many of them are destined to become great players who will play many test matches.”
When told that Pollard had won the individual award, Matfield made no secret of his high regard for a player who he coaches, and occasionally captains, at the Bulls.
“I think I said to someone recently that playing with Handre is an eye-opener. He has such a wise old head on his shoulders and yet he is only 20. When I am captain, he is a guy who I can let run things and make calls at the back. He is a special player so I am disappointed that the Junior Boks didn’t win the tournament with him as captain.
“There were two narrow drop-goal misses from him, one from the left and the other from the right. Had either of those gone over, he would have had a fairy-tale finish to his junior career.
He can however look forward to a long and successful career (at senior level). As his coach at the Bulls I am pleased he won the award, and I am sure he is going to play many test matches for his country.”
There has been speculation that the first of those could be as early as next week against Scotland, but Matfield just smiled when that was suggested. You can bet your bottom dollar though that it won’t be long before Pollard is wearing the Bok No 10, even if it isn’t next week.
And when he does become South Africa's newest Bok, the most capped player in history will have every confidence in his ability to do the business for his country.
One only hopes this "legend" is Long gone SOONEST"
BUT CONGRATS TO HANDRE POLLARD FORMERLY OF WP!!!
