Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard ruled out of Rugby Championship

Influential flyhalf Handrè Pollard has been ruled out of the Rugby Championship as he continues to recover from a calf injury, SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has confirmed. 

Pollard is in camp with the squad in Pretoria, where they are preparing for the first match of the tournament against Australia at Loftus in Pretoria on July 8. 

Last week the Boks team management recalled Elton Jantjies as they anticipated Pollard might not be ready to play in the shortened championship. 

Erasmus said the targeted return for Pollard is during the Rugby World Cup (RWC) warm-up matches against Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 5, Wales in Cardiff on August 19 or the All Blacks at Twickenham on August 25. 

The World Cup in France starts on September 8 and the Springboks kick off pool B against Scotland in Marseille on September 10.

“The only real concern, and it will be touch and go to play a Rugby Championship game, will be Handré Pollard, and I am not including the Argentina Test match on August 5,” Erasmus said when asked about the Boks’ injury concerns for the championship. 

SA Rugby’s director of rugby added that lock Eben Etzebeth, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and flyhalf Damian Willemse are making good progress. 

“Eben’s results really looked good yesterday [Monday]. Jaden and Damian are all ready to go and those are the three where there were questions.

“Handrè is a bit of a worry and he will not be able to play in the Rugby Championship. It is a calf injury he suffered playing for his club Leicester — that’s why we have Elton Jantjies here so Handrè can fully recover and we don’t push him too early.”

Manie Libbok of the Stormers is the other flyhalf in the squad. 

“His [Pollard’s] situation is more or less the same as Siya [Kolisi] — we are looking at either the Argentina, Wales or New Zealand [World Cup warm-up] Tests, which are not part of the Rugby Championship,” Erasmus said. 

“We tend to put a lot pressure for the guy to be ready, but we only have two flyhalves here. At training we have a guy like Faf [de Klerk] to slot in at 10 and those kinds of things help a lot. Also, Damian Willemse is fit now.” 

Coach Jacques Nienaber said the injury to Pollard has not disrupted the Boks’ preparations. 

“I don’t think so. You put a basic game model or plan out there and the players will adapt, evolve and apply their skills set to that. Obviously, we must get used to the guy who is playing there and it is probably similar disruption to a guy like Siya. 

“We are fortunate if you think of the squad we have built over the last couple of years, where we have been together with this group. There is good depth and quality in the majority of the positions. 

“In terms of a game play or strategy we have as the Boks, we have a framework we put out there. But if you speak to any player, they must bring their own individuality,” Nienaber said. 

“Handrè has got a certain individuality or style he brings to the game. Manie can’t do Handrè and Handrè can’t do Manie, and Willemse can’t be Manie or Handrè. 

“Everybody has their own personality, their own style and skills set that makes them different. The framework must never be there to push you in a specific way or style. You must always bring your own characteristics out.”