South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard says his return to international rugby at the World Cup will be “a big jump” that will not be “perfect”.
Pollard, 29, who was a late injury replacement to the squad, will start his first game since May against Tonga.
The fly-half has only played 30 minutes for Leicester Tigers on 15 September since sustaining a calf injury.
“My expectations for myself are just going to be to express myself and enjoy it,” Pollard said.
“It was a calf injury that should have only been about four weeks [on the sidelines], but ended up being almost three months.
“It was a very frustrating time but that’s the body, that’s how it works. We tried our best to be fit as soon as possible but it didn’t work out.”
Pollard, who kicked 22 points in the final against England to help the Springboks win the 2019 World Cup, replaced injured hooker Malcolm Marx in South Africa’s squad having been left out of the original 33-man party.
bbc
SA 28/13 Tonga conversion missed 55th min
Big Ben subbed off
Tonga starting to resort to dirty play on a number of occasions eventually penalised for no arm tackle
Coleman disrupts Boks line out and earns scrum for Tonga
Super try Le Roux in left corner
SA 35/13 Tonga as Libbok nails conversion
Van Staden on to hooker as Kolisi is subbed off and Fourie goes to flanker
Tonga maul static
Eventually Boks get penalty to get relief and play back up near half way
Try van Staden out wide on right
SA 42/13 Tonga as Libbok converts 65th min
Good kick Havilli gets Tonga line out inside SA 22
Glasgow Warrior Vailanu on for Tonga
Pass just forward from le Roux to Williams otherwise could have been interesting
Fekitoa subbed off 69th min
Strong counter scrum earns Bok penalty
Esterhuizen gives away stupid penalty in promising position
Bingo… A screen!
42 – 13
Did you hear the commentator mention Percy Montgomery! 🙂
The class act of RWC 2009
Great defence by Boks
Well that was a rather cool try from Tonga!
Superb counter attack rewarded with bounce of ball and Tonga score
SA 42/18 Tonga conversion missed 74th min
This game is not dead… Tonga are really pushing now
Tonga coming alive and it takes super defence by Kriel to stop them
Phew SA get penalty not far from try line as Tonga were looking so dangerous
78th min Bok line out lost but Tonga knock on
Try under the posts Kwagga Smith!
49 – 18 Final score to SA
SA 49/18 Tonga as Libbok converts. And that’s the final score.
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