Handré Pollard
It’s a sort of homecoming, with apologies to U2, as Handre Pollard returns to his Western Cape roots for an Absa Currie Cup semi-final on Saturday.
The former Paarl Gym flyhalf, born in Somerset West but shrewdly snapped up as a teenager by the Blue Bulls in 2012 despite Western Province insisting they did everything they could to hold onto the wunderkind, seems a betting certainty to start for his adopted province in a classic “South v North” derby at Newlands (17:00).
Pollard, who has supposedly been nursing a niggle or two from his often heroic exertions in the Castle Rugby Championship, only underlined in a few late minutes off the bench against Griquas at Loftus on Saturday just what a tremendous prospect he is at the still pretty tender age of 20.
Not only did he register a try of his own against the predictably outmuscled visitors with a sizzling inside step and then power surge over the line, but the exciting new Springbok also produced two cunning chips in attacking play – one of which directly led to a touchdown by veteran wing Akona Ndungane.
Sport24
Assuming he is deemed suitably fit to start the knockout encounter with log-toppers WP, it would be crazy for Bulls coach Frans Ludeke not to give him the No 10 jersey at the expense of the workmanlike but greatly more predictable Jacques-Louis Potgieter next weekend.
As SuperSport critic and former Bok coach Nick Mallett – while still tipping Province for the semi – said after the Bulls’ routine 46-12 victory in the second of two “dead” fixtures in terms of log relevance on Saturday: “If Pollard plays it could be closer than people expect … he’s got star quality.”
Pollard being a vital source of X-factor for the likely underdogs, who ended fourth on the table, would be understandable to many neutral New Zealanders, who saw him produce two commanding personal showings on the trot against the All Blacks in this year’s Championship, first at Wellington and then in the bogey-breaking triumph at Ellis Park last Saturday.
His expected “bonus” presence for the Bulls (as he is not yet among the many contracted Boks forbidden from gracing the last four this year) adds further spice, as if it were needed, to the Newlands clash, which sees these foes meeting at this phase of the premier all-domestic competition for the first time since 2009.
That year, when senior Boks from both teams were very much part of the action, the visitors edged a thriller 21-19, Morne Steyn goaling the seventh of his penalties from a challenging angle in the 77th minute to make the key difference after Fijian powerhouse wing Sireli Naqelevuki had been blown up for an indiscretion.
The Bulls went on to win the cup by seeing off the Cheetahs 36-24 in the final.
But the balance of power has altered a great deal in 2014, with the hot favourites to contest the showpiece remaining Province and the second-placed Golden Lions; the last-named team also have the benefit of a home semi (14:30) when they tackle the Sharks.
That said, few could confidently deny that both the Bulls and Sharks have a puncher’s chance of upsetting the form book on the entirely fitting and enticing semis bill.
As suggested by Sport24 after the penultimate round of ordinary-season play last weekend, the pecking order on the table then looked unlikely to be altered a week later … and that is precisely what occurred.
Once the Lions had remorselessly thumped a limp Cheetahs side 47-7 in the earliest of the Saturday fixtures, the next two games, a little disappointingly, had nothing at stake for any of the other confirmed semi-finalists as log positions were already nailed down.
Clear-cut round-robin winners Province had already made their intentions very clear, earlier in the week, by resting all but one or two “first-teamers” for the Newlands visit from the Sharks, who similarly entered the game aware (albeit in their case only for a few minutes ahead of kick-off) that third was their finishing berth whether they liked it or not.
Under the circumstances, the coastal derby still produced a decent spectacle for an extraordinarily healthy crowd of around 27,000, with the WP greenhorns cheekily running out into a 20-8 lead at one stage.
But a much more gnarly Sharks outfit, still featuring around a dozen internationals despite the absence of various contracted Boks, kept their composure admirably to seize an iron grip up front – especially at scrum and lineout time – and eventually win 28-20.
Their pack is unlikely to get such an easy ride in the scrums against the Lions, who always fancy themselves in that department, although locks Marco Wentzel and Stephan Lewies dished out a reminder of the aerial threat they could pose for the Sharks in the “Big Smoke” semi-final.
Saturday’s semi-finals:
Xerox Golden Lions vs Cell C Sharks, Ellis Park, 14:30 SA Time
DHL Western Province vs Vodacom Blue Bulls, Newlands, 17:00 SA Time
Really hope the Bulls don’t play Pollard at 12.
Firstly, and most importantly, its a much more abrasive position which can only increase the odds of him being injured.
And secondly, he isn’t a very good 12. Last years U20 WC proved that.
@ John Galt:
TBF he had a mixed year at 10 as well last year.
I dont know, I think it could work (If he had Lambie inside him)
JLP@10 and Pollard@12 would be a disaster, pointless. The only shot the Bulls have is to play Pollard@10, Beyers would not be a bad 12 either, infact I think he would be pretty good there, he does not have enough speed to be an outside back, but he has pretty good skills and runs good lines.
@ MacroBlouBul:
IMO the Bulls will attack the channel of Catrakilis regardless of whoever plays at 10. The Cat’s defence last week was quite poor. He can also expect Jacques du Plessis to run at him all day !
@ charlesm:
That would pretty much play to your hand I think, Bulls will need some creativity, as games against you guys over the last few years have been dominated by good continuity from the Bulls, but also excellent PW defense and brutal counter attacks… I expect nothing different
@ MacroBlouBul:
I am sure though that the Cat will be tested on defence. I really hope Handré doesn’t pick up an injury. As we know Handré doesn’t shy away from contact on attack as well as on defence.
@ charlesm:
I must say it worries me as well, Pollard should not be playing…
But when life gives you lemons 😀
Carr dominates the tackle stats though I assume it is for covering for Cat all season.
Bulls will truly need something special, WP should still win comfortably… depending on the team FL selects.
@ MacroBlouBul:
It wasn’t really his attacking play that was bad when he was at 12.
His defense was a problem. As would be the case with most 10s who have to suddenly defend the 12 channel.
its an entirely different prospect.
@ John Galt:
Honestly, I wont know how he goes at 12, my feeling is that he might still and will get a go at 12 again. Last year the feeling was that he was quite overwhelmed with the expectations and has grown significantly since then.
My feeling is that if we want to brand him as a “wunderkind” it means that he possess all the skills, so he should be able to slot in at 12 or even 15, most of us can sense to prospect of a very good rugby player with a beautiful pass and a great running game.
So why not play him at 12? We should not be scared.
and as he has grown in a year he is reveling in contact as well.
@ MacroBlouBul:
Yeah sure, play him there.
But the prime concern should be his staying fit for the EOYT.
There is no upside to him playing at 12. We already know what he can do at 10 and that is where HM will always play him.
There is only downside, which is injury.
@ John Galt:
I dont want him to play there for this game, as I said in post 2. Its like forcing a square through a circle.
Would not make an inch of sense outside JLP, The bulls best chance is pollard at 10 with maybe beyers at 12.
Pollard would be more dynamic outside guys like Boshoff or Lambie.
As a bok supporter Pollard should not be playing, but then again he does not have the miles on the clock most other boks have that are resting now, this is reward for how the Bulls managed him this year.
Pollard played
414 min of super rugby
compared to boshoff
1183 min SR
It would be a travesty if Ludeke plays Handré Pollard at Inside Centre!
He is a No 10, and that is where he should be played for the Blue Bulls, the Springboks and in Super Rugby.
It would also not serve the Springboks End Of Year cause if Pollard is played at No 12 now.
He did not get too much game time in Super Rugby, but played the whole Junior World Cup – where he was also captain for the Bokkies, then it was straight into the balance of Super Rugby and into the Rugby Championship.
Do we need to cotton wool him for the End Of Year Tour? Hell a difficult decision, but I’d rather be worried about the amount of game time next year in Super Rugby. I think he now needs to build on that consistency factor and he also needs to be played consistently at the End Of Year Tour… at the same time giving Lambie enough game time as well.
The Blue Bulls have several other options to apply at No 12, Ulrich Beyers or Jesse Kriel or even Daniel Kriel or even the Junior Bok Ruhan Janse van Rensburg.
I’d play Pollard at No 10, Ulrich Beyers at 12, and Jesse kriel at No 15.
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