By Lucky Maree
Chances are good that Handré Pollard will make it to the World Cup – all it takes is for a member of the squad to have a serious injury.
It’s interesting that Nick Mallett, writing in his column for News24, criticised the Springbok selectors.
“It’s strange that Pollard is not included. There are examples of other players who are injured and were included,” he wrote.
Though not condemning the selection, he said: “Pollard has to go, in the same way Siya Kolisi has to go.”
No doubt, Nick Mallet hasn’t forgotten (and nobody will let him forget) his strategic blunder when he took a huge gamble by taking Bobby Skinstad to the World Cup in 1999 in Great Britain. Not only was Skinstad carrying a damaged knee so serious that it threatened to end his career, Mallett also left out the much-loved and respected captain Gary Teichmann.
In Mallet’s defence, it must be said that Skinstad, at the time was perhaps the best flank in the world. Nonetheless, the decision allegedly caused a rift in the Springbok camp. South Africa narrowly lost to Australia but still managed to finish third in the tournament. Mallett, a man who does not shrink away from the truth, admits freely that leaving Teichmann behind was a serious mistake. Perhaps that is why he is now so insistent that Pollard should have been in the squad.
But is Pollard out of the World Cup altogether? Not at all.
The entire rugby world knows that South Africa does not have a flyhalf on the level of Richie Mo’Unga, Finn Russell or Owen Farrell, so a quality flyhalf like Handré Pollard would be a massive boost. But even if he is declared fit and is included in the squad (by hook or by crook), it is also true that he is prone to injury.
World Cup rules allow for injured players to be replaced – and it doesn’t have to be like for like. An injured prop forward, for instance, can be replaced by a fullback. Rugby is a tough and players get injured, and it may even happen in the next two matches.
It’s hard to imagine the the Springbok coaches will deliberately plan for a player to be seriously injured, but if a gap appears, it’s a safe bet that Pollard would be high on the list to take the gap.
Pictured above: Handre Pollard
Image source: @afp
