Springboks Named - Yahoo Sport

The Springboks are going with a rookie to run the ship in Saturday's test against the All Blacks in Wellington.

20-year old Handre Pollard has been picked for just his fourth test, ahead of veteran first-five Morne Steyn.

Coach Heyneke Meyer says while some may view it as a big call, he doesn't see it that way.

Meyer says while it's not the same, Pollard was exceptional in the under-20 tournament and they believe he can play a huge part in the World Cup.

It's the only change to the team which lost to Australia last weekend.

Only one Change Steyn Gone and Pollard starts at Ten.

15. Willie Le Roux 14. Cornal Hendricks 13. Jan Serfontain 12. Jean De Villiars 11. Bryan Habana 10. Handre Pollard 9. Ruan Peinear 8. Duan Vermuluen 7. Marcel Cortzee 6. Francois Louwe 5. Victor Matfeild 4. Eben Estebeth 3. Jannie Du Pleesi 2. Adrian Strauss 1. Tendai Metiawaria 

16. Bismark Du Pleesi 17. Trevor Nyakene 18. Marcel Van Der Merwe 19. Lood De Jager 20. Warren Whitely 21. Francois Houggard 22. Pat Lambie 23. Damian De Allende

''It's a guy who I believe could play in the World Cup and play a huge part in the World Cup. He's just come into test match rugby, but he was very successful here [in New Zealand] in the under 20s tournament. I know its not the same, but I have a lot of confidence.

''He's a different type of player, but you have to do something different if you want to beat New Zealand. We want to evolve and play some attractive rugby so hopefully it's a dry field and we can play some attacking rugby.''

''I have always been criticised for being too conservative in picking guys, so to pick a 20-year old and a 21-year-old alongside each other I know they are going to be great players,'' he said. ''I have a lot of confidence. I have to expose him [Pollard] before the World Cup... I don't think you are going to beat the All Blacks, especially away from home if you just do the conventional.''

Problem is forecast for Wellington on Saturday is 90% chance of rain with winds at 18mph. I just hope Pollard and the Boks do a better job of adjusting to the conditions than they did in the first Argie test. I would have stuck with Morne and started Pollard in a situation where he had a better chance of success that was more conducive to his style of play. Will be pulling for the youngster to come through this though as on the flip side it could be a real confidence booster.

The conditions seem to be shaping up as ideal for a Bok upset - a proud powerful wounded animal ready to fight back. We are long overdue for a complete game against the AB's.

Boks and Argies to win this weekend. Fingers crossed

 I for one are not particularly concerned with a win for the Boks. I am hopeful, and would be well and truly over the moon if it were to happen. I just desperately want the Boks to threaten, show some cohesion and determination. More than anything I want Pollard to succeed, in that I mean not necessarily set the world alight (would be nice), but get in his grove and build that confidence and what better test than in NZ against the worlds best.

Good luck young man!

remember AIG are a few players down too - granted hometown advantage and ref already paid means could be a tough night for the bok.

I hope Bismarck comes on and gets some payback for last year's injustices and...

as for Pollard odds certainly against him... wet windy cold wellington against (cough gag) the best team in world rugby... anyway - talk about throwing someone in the deep end... 

New blood brought in by the coach.....

Willie... success 

Hendriks...likely success

Mvovo....fail

Basson...fail

JJ....fail

Taute....fail

De Allende....fail

Serfontein....likely fail

Jantjies....fail

Goosen....fail

Pollard....unknown

Hougaard at scrummie....fail

Malherbe.....fail

Marcel van der Merwe.....likely fail

Adriaanse....fail

Nyakane....likely fail

Werner Kruger....fail

Dean Greyling....fail

Coenie....fail

Strauss....success

Etzebeth....success

Juandre Kruger.....fail

Lood.....fail

Coetzee.....likely success

Kolisi....fail

Keegan Daniel....fail

Arno Botha....injury

By my count that's 26 new players in three years. Of which only 6 have not failed. And of those 6 only Willie, Etzebeth, Strauss and now Coetzee have become clear successes.

So is it that HM doesn't select new players....or that new players have simply not seized their chances.

Mozart … let’s be fair, huh?

The players that should NOT have been given a shot to begin with  ... EVER ... are

Hnedricks,

Basson

JJ

Taute

Jantjies

Goosen

HouGat

Adriaanse

Werner Kruger

Greyling

Juandre

Lood

Kolisi

Daniels

That's 14 on your list that should NEVER have been considered for national duty.

The players from your list that weren’t given a proper run are

Mvovo

De Allende

Serfontein

Pollard

Malherbe

Marcell

Nyakane

Coetzee

Arno Botha

That's 9 players that weren't given a proper decent shot at settling.

Instead he brings in the Matfields, the Bakkies, the Gurthros, Du Preez's, the Steyns and Kirchners of the world ... all of which are practically retired ... they're worn out hasbeens, past their prime by some way.

Please don't come tell us that Meyer did his best to blood young TALENT in the last near on three years. We both know that that is the biggest pile of steaming horse shyte ever conjured.

He's been fixated on Bulls and geriatrics ... it backfired on him. Now he must be held to account for his incompetence.

Take Serfontein as an example. The lad may well have say 15 caps. However for each cap he got to spend 5 minutes on the park. Does that constitute a proper run?

I don't think so.

Any decent coach would have had his world cup team sorted by now ... or at least as close as dammit. Not Meyer. The fool's still scratching his head, confused, bewildered.

Fool of a coach.

That's the spirit, now all he has to do is score some great tries for the Springboks and dominate the world's best and he'd be Danie Gerber and you'd be a profit. But right now you are looking like the Wall Street analyst that gave the market a strong buy signal in A ugust of 08.