Pollard to Start for Boks, Likely Bok Team

Pollard set to start for Boks by Brenden Nel 24 June 2014, 19:16

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer looks set to thrust IRB Junior Player of the year Handre Pollard firmly into the spotlight when he names him as his starting flyhalf for Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series test match against Scotland in Port Elizabeth.

Pollard joined up with the team from the Junior Boks this week, straight upon his return from the IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand where his team lost by a single point to England in the final.

It wasn’t just the IRB who has seen the promise in the young pivot but Meyer as well. The Bok coach has rated Pollard highly from the start and had it not been for the Junior Boks’ plea to have him in their side, he would have been in the Bok squad from the beginning of June.

And now, with Morne Steyn heading back to his club in France, and a spot open at flyhalf, Meyer looks set to give the young star a start when he names the side on Wednesday that will line up to face the Scots in the one-off test.

A long discussion between flyhalf Johan Goosen, Meyer and team doctor Craig Roberts at the start of Tuesday’s training session put paid to the idea that Goosen may well start, and it was quite clear that the Free State flyhalf isn’t likely to play this weekend again as he sat out the defensive drills that the side went through.

Goosen did make an appearance later in the training, playing alongside Marnitz Boshoff in the reserves, as Pollard spent most of the training running alongside Fourie du Preez and Jan Serfontein in the backline that is expected to be confirmed Wednesday.

While it may raise eyebrows should Pollard leapfrog the other two flyhalves, it must be mentioned that he would have been in the squad had it not been for the Junior Bok stint, and quite obviously it would then also confirm him as central to Meyer’s plans for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Some may see it as throwing him into the deep end, but the opportunity is perfect, especially as Pollard has won an IRB Junior World Championship alongside Jan Serfontein and has played alongside him at the Bulls, while Fourie du Preez on his inside gives him a cool head and a veteran who is likely to protect the youngster.

The other changes may not be as radical as initially hoped for by many outside the squad, but there will also be chance for several fringe players to stake a claim in the game after injuries to Tendai Mtawarira and Flip van der Merwe, while the absence of the seven Euro-Boks opens up possibilities on the bench.

Lwazi Mvovo looks set to be elevated from the bench to the wing spot, with JP Pietersen likely to stick to the 13 jersey for now. Sibusiso Sithole is the favourite to take his spot on the bench as cover for wing and outside centre.

At flank Marcel Coetzee looks set to get a run alongside Schalk Burger, although one of them may be named in the reserves with Willem Alberts’ name on the team sheet as he continues to undergo the IRB concussion protocol for return to play.

At lock Lood de Jager looks set to take his place alongside Victor Matfield in the starting line-up while Coenie Oosthuizen is the favourite to replace Mtawarira in the front row.

Meyer has always contended that the Springboks is not the place for experimentation, and rather than change the entire team, the coach is set to fill the holes that have arisen as he wants a good result against the Scots.

The bench therefore may provide a tantalising mix of youth and experience, as Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Sithole and Ruan Pienaar are all set to secure spots.

The rest of the bench will be interesting to see, with a reserve lock needed while Meyer could decide that Pienaar may be cover for 10 again, giving Francois Hougaard an opportunity to come into the match 23 and provide an extra option on wing, or keep Pienaar as the reserve scrumhalf, with Marnitz Boshoff then providing the back-up cover for flyhalf and fullback.

Possible Bok team: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, Lwazi Mvovo, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger/Willem Alberts, Marcel Coetzee, Victor Matfield (capt), Lood de Jager, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen.

I think it is good to start with Pollard. We need all the time possible to develop a flyhalf for the World Cup. He is young but he is more physical than most flyhalfs allready.

Surely we cant persist with the limited Morne Steyn, we need a flyhalf that can run on the advantage line at speed and not just a link player or kicker.

Goosen is too injury prone at this stage of his career and has gone backwards. It is looking that he may not even be ready for the bench.

Lambie is an option, but Pollard has the potential to be a top flyhalf and I suspect Lambie at best will only be a good flyhalf.

Boshoff could be a one season wonder, of 1/2 season wonder. Somehow I dont think he will get better on the highest level.

Best to stick to the player with the most potential and give him time to develop for the World Cup.


In the forwards we see that Fat Albert is still named in the starting run on team, but mostly likely to be a combination of Schalk and Cotzee. This is a faster combination and will be more effective at the breakdown.

It will be good to see Lood get a whole game, with perhaps Lewis on the bench.
Lewis provides specialist cover to Matfield, so will be good to give him a run especially with the other Stephanie injured.


We need to discard of Bakkies and Flip van der Penalty.

 I think it would be wrong to play Pietersen at 13 again - he was disappointing in both tests as a 13 and to persist with him would just prolong the agony of finding a real 13 to play at center in future. 
It seems as if Meyer has written off JJ as a 13 - and one really cannot blame him.  JJ was poor in defense last year and his attacking play is virtually non-existent.   He is probably carrying the blame for the Ellis Park loss last year.   If he did not intend to use JJ in future - why was he called up for the squad training in the first instance?
Pietersen was poor in defense in both tests and other than the case here Willie put him into space he was nondescript in attacking play as well.  He is a wing - not a center.
I hope Alberts is out as well - he is a false note in any effort to improve the back row of the Springboks - should have been sent packing a long time ago..  
      

If that's the team, it's a nice logical progression. Coetzee is not going to be effective against any power team...but the rest looks fine. Pity we can't get a more creative 12, but perhaps Pollard will help Steppie.  

Mozart not understood rugby since 1867. 

Very flattering Cheesy. I'm apparently an immortal....the Highlander of rugby.

 The poor shots in the selection is already identified.  Serfonten really is not the problem.   Neither is Coetzee.   The problem centers around the 13 and 7 positions.
And then we will have a weak link at 5 - especially in the Tight 5 situation.    

 
When will Jean De Villiers be set for his return?

How about De Allende?

 CC 
I checked the Stormers website - no news - but they are not playing this weekend - so we might hear something next week.

 Yep the weak link at 5 is being persisted with which is alarming. Its amazing how he comes out smelling like roses. He is now in the eyes of the groupies the hero who saved the day against Wales.  The best of the kbbs could not have offered a more delusional comment. He can do no wrong regardless is the only possible conclusion when considering groupie comments. 
Should the Boks win big these groupies will be all over us like a rash! The kkbs wll be clamouring for wee matfiled - 106 kg - to be retained for the Bok RC (All sincere good advice to help out the Boks). The groupies will wax lyrical about victor's record number of test caps. Much like ou saSUE waxes lyrical over the mythical wee abs test record achieved via RAWs ( not roars!) I am seeing many parralles here and they are of the delusional type!!!!

Strauss should play and captain the side as Bissie is in great need of a break. So is Jannie - so play Van der Merwe.
JP, who according to the stats never missed a tackle in the second test against Wales, is retained at center. JP is settling in well there. However, what about Jordaan being given a shot. Also why not try JJ on the wing. JJ will make an excellent wing. Leave JP on the bench. ie have a very strong bench to call on and rest key players etc.
A little commom sense is needed.

 Another crap side that will struggle past Scotland

 Beeno
That so-called try saver of Matfield was no saver at all.  The ball was knocked on by Jones and even if Matfield was a mile away - no try would have been awarded in any event.   The real dum b bunny in that case was the clueless Morne Steyn - who instead of trying to recover the ball - tried to dribble kick the ball away - kicking it straight into one of his own players.  
But Mozart will put it down to brilliance on the part of Matfield and would find an excuse for Morne in any event.