Bok coach Heyneke Meyer
South Africa have handed the controls to 20-year-old first five-eighth Handré Pollard as they look for an attacking spark to end their three-year drought against the All Blacks.
Pollard is the only change to the Springbok side that lost narrowly to Australia in Perth last week, but signals a major shift from coach Heyneke Meyer as he looks forward toward next year’s World Cup.
Significantly, Pollard, in what will be just his fourth test, pushes the more traditional South African veteran Morné Steyn out of the squad for what is South Africa’s biggest test of The Rugby Championship so far this year.
stuff NZ
“It’s probably seen a big call, but I don’t see it as such,” Meyer said today. “We know what we have in Morné and he’s always done well for us… I have a lot of confidence in Handré and I want to see what he can do at the highest level.
“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.”
Pollard was the star of the IRB Junior World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year, but is a rookie at international level.
He made his test debut against Scotland in June and started in two narrow wins over Argentina at the start of The Rugby Championship before Steyn returned to face the Wallabies.
Meyer said he was determined to push on with a player he believed could change the way the Springboks have traditionally played and believed youngsters like Pollard and 21-year-old centre Jan Serfontein were key to that goal.
“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.”
South Africa haven’t beaten the All Blacks in three years and last won on New Zealand soil in 2009.
Meyer scoffed at suggestions the All Blacks were under strength due to injuries and pointed out the Springboks were missing “a whole backline” with Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Frans Steyn, and JP Pietersen all unavailable.
Meanwhile, the South African camp were quick to sidestep any questions about a proposal to increase the quota of coloured players in the national team ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“I’m just here to coach. It’s always great to be among rugby people here. I love being in New Zealand it’s always a tough battle here,” Meyer said when asked about the issue. “You should ask that of SA Rugby. I’m just here to serve my country and to do the best for the Springboks.”
After further attempts by the media to ask about the issue, the team’s media officer stepped in and said all questions must be referred to SARU’s head office.
I feel for Meyer, having to face the quota questions.
How poor was the timing of those reports?
HM is a chop.
“We want to evolve and play some attractive rugby so hopefully it’s a dry field and we can play some attacking rugby.”
Pretty much what we would all like
“I don’t think you are going to beat the All Blacks, especially away from home if you just do the conventional.”
I agree
”I’m just here to coach. It’s always great to be among rugby people here. I love being in New Zealand it’s always a tough battle here,” Meyer said when asked about the issue. ”You should ask that of SA Rugby. I’m just here to serve my country and to do the best for the Springboks.”
After further attempts by the media to ask about the issue, the team’s media officer stepped in and said all questions must be referred to SARU’s head office.
I don’t think they could have handled that better.
@ nortierd:
SARU only does poor timing.
@ nortierd: @1
@ gunther: EXACTLY! Poor timing, is the only thing that those useless bunch of fux seem to get right!
6 @ gunther:
Yes, but that report was leaked to? and published by Rapport.
Good luck young man 😀
” I am just here to serve my country”
We’ll buddy, if you still want to serve your country in future you better do what your masters are telling you and that is to select more black people for the national team.
I wonder whether nick mallet will pull a “you don’t throw a youngster to the wolves” comment after Saturdays game?
@ nortierd:
I also suspect it was leaked
@ nortierd:
1
He was well prepared for that rest assured 😉
@ NZINCHINA:
9 Wow China Nice Surprising,but nice
Regards Rye
Pollard in a lekker win-win situation.The coach as much as said that he is going to the RWC. So, his performance on Saturday does not matter much.
If he fails, it will be seen as a good learning experience with a view on the WC. If he passes the test, well…
@ Nama:
If he passes that test at least he will piss you off.
😆
@ gunther:
I was about to ask him to finish his sentence.
But that would’ve made him a member of the “glass half full” clan. 🙄
And he wouldn’t stand for that.
@ gunther:
Nope.
It will have you somersaulting with joy for the next week, I believe.
@ IAAS:
Now why would I do that?
1st chance at goal for Bafana.
@ Nama:
Why wouldn’t one be happy if he put in a good performance???
Unless of course…..
😆
Unless of course…what?
Unless you were not happy 😀
@ Nama:
1st chance for a goal in how many years?
That is a quality pitch though, Nigeria a bunch of tough guys.
@ MacroBok:
Score asb?
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