­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER

SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ Pollard’s growth a boon for Boks

Pollard’s growth a boon for Boks

Published on May 18, 2015 | Leave a response

Handré Pollard is quickly developing into a flyhalf of the highest order, writes RYAN VREDE.

This was always going to be an important season for Pollard's development. Where 2014 was his breakthrough year, one in which he benefited from a degree of mystery, 2015 was always going to be a more difficult proposition. However, on the evidence of his contributions to date, Pollard is negotiating that challenge expertly.

This is not to say he has evolved into the best version of himself. Far from it. Pollard has and will continue to take poor options and execute those actions poorly in the coming months and years. He is in a process of refinement in which errors of that kind will be commonplace. Indeed they are crucial to his improvement. His education is some way from completion, but he is showing himself to be an excellent student.

He tops the point-scorer's table, the majority of his haul coming from the kicking tee, but his value extends far beyond that. Pollard's game management has advanced notably and he has exhibited week-on-week improvement in his option-taking. His running game has always caught the eye, but the improvement now is in the intelligence with which he attacks the defensive line and the spaces therein.

By way of an example from Saturday's match in Auckland, the split-second decision he made to run the ball instead of passing it, then committing two defenders before offloading to set up Jan Serfontein's first try spoke volumes about his progression. There are a catalog of similar examples from this season one could cite.

Deeply entrenched provincialism means that Pollard's development hasn't been as widely lauded as it should be. Yet he is by some way the standout South African flyhalf and arguably among the top three in the tournament. 

I was critical of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer's decision to play him ahead of Morné Steyn for the bulk of the 2014 season. My view was that Pollard's elevation was premature, that Steyn still had something to offer the team in the context of their game plan. In hindsight, Pollard, through performance, has embarrassed that opinion. The fruits of his Test experience and a regular Vodacom Super Rugby starting berth are clear to see.

Pollard's rise is encouraging in a World Cup year. Barring serious injury or significant loss of form, Pollard is likely to be Meyer's premier pivot at the tournament in England. Starting consistently on the 2014 end-of-year tour would have offered him some insight into the tactical demands on a Test flyhalf in those conditions and against opposition accustomed to them. This amplifies his value.

Pollard's temperament was never in question. He has always given one the sense that he won't easily fold under pressure and reinforced that sense through performance under pressure. The pertinent questions around him focus more on game management and option-taking. These last few months of Super Rugby have been telling in this regard. He looks to be on course to realise his immense potential.    

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Posted in Uncategorized

Post by Ryan Vrede

Ryan Vrede

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER