Rugby World Cup 2023 – Why Handré Pollard’s return will change South Africa’s game

No one is a prophet in his country, but the return of Handré Pollard removes a big thorn in South Africa’s side. After the first two completely controlled meetings, against Scotland and Romania, the Springboks were devilishly effective in the running game, with a great desire to play towards the outside. A novelty since the injury to Handré Pollard and, above all, since the successive tenures of Mannie Libbok. With a more aerial and whimsical profile than the former Montpellier, the Stormers fly-half was able to embellish the Boks’ frontal play.

But Libbok also showed his limits against the poles. Against Scotland, the South African number 10 missed three of his attempts on goal. Failures of no consequence, but which could have been fatal in a knife match. In this context, and because of Malcolm Marx’s injury, Jacques Nienaber chose to repatriate Pollard in his mission of the world double.

Return of sobriety… and full frontal?

“He has worked hard to get back to full fitness, and we are pleased that he will now have some playing time under his belt for his club, which will allow him to return to the team. We will work closely with him during the week next time to get him back into the swing of things, and we’re confident he’ll rise to the challenge. He’s been here before, so he knows the physical and mental demands of the World Cup.” According to the South African coach, Leicester number 10 should probably not be lined up against Ireland, for this meeting that looks like a Pool B final.

Nienaber and his deputies logically see further than this clash of titans against the XV of Clover. With Pollard on the field during the final stages, the South African game should regain its natural virtues. Priority to conquest, clinical footwork and a precise plan, far from the blind foot passes of Mannie Libbok. A return to sobriety, even to “all frontal”, which brilliantly proved its worth in 2019 when the Springboks worked to torment their opponents up front.

The goalscorer problem solved

In this strategy, the kicking game must be diabolical. Handré Pollard remains to this day the best gunner in the rainbow nation, far ahead of his fellow scorers. Facing Romania, Faf de Klerk and Damian Willemse dropped eight points (two failed conversions each) on attempts that were far from insurmountable. With Pollard and his tee, South Africa should regain focus. In 2019, the South African sniper finished best director of the Japanese World Cup, with 69 points scored.

A true metronome of South Africa, the former Ciste is used to very high-intensity encounters. Pollard was the Boks’ starting flyhalf at the last two World Cups (2015 and 2019). With 73% success overall at the last World Cup (compared to 66% for South African scorers at the 2023 World Cup), Handré Pollard especially made the difference in the final phase. In the semi and final, the South African only missed two attempts in fifteen kicks, a success rate of 86%. In the final against England, Pollard even scored 22 of South Africa’s 32 points. Repeated in France?