Handre Pollard’s absence will force Jacques Nienaber to focus on finding the best alternate flyhalf during the remainder of the Rugby Championship, writes DYLAN JACK.

While the Springboks will try once more to end their Australian drought against the Wallabies in Sydney, Handre Pollard will be watching from his new club in Leicester.

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Pollard suffered a reported knee injury in the loss to Australia in Adelaide and, given that he has been jettisoned from the squad to complete his rehab at his club, will not likely be involved in the remainder of the Rugby Championship.

The 28-year-old has been integral to the Springboks’ success in the Nienaber-Erasmus era and so the natural reaction to his absence would understandably be panic.

This is especially as South Africa’s overall depth at flyhalf is incredibly threadbare, with the out-of-form and short-of-game-time Elton Jantjies the only other experienced option in the position after Morne Steyn hung up his boots last year.

However, Pollard’s absence could end up being an early Christmas blessing, gift-wrapped and bowtied and dropped on Jacques Nienaber’s doorstep.

Pollard’s presence in the Springbok squad means that the development of any realistic backup option will unfortunately always be stalled.

Out of the 13 Tests the Springboks played in 2021, Pollard started 11 of those, was benched in one – against Scotland in Edinburgh – and missed one entirely (the 32-21 win over Argentina in Gqeberha). That trend has continued this year where, after missing the opening fixture against Wales in Pretoria due to fitness, Pollard has started five consecutive Tests.

Simply put, when Pollard is fit and available, the Springboks simply cannot resist the urge to start him.

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Now that he is out, the Springboks can put their full focus on developing the second- and third-choice options.

Nienaber has made an excellent decision in shifting Damian Willemse from fullback to flyhalf in Pollard’s absence, with veteran Willie le Roux back in the No 15 jersey for the Test in Sydney.

Willemse has been assured as the starting fullback for the Boks. His performances have mixed the exhilarating with the calm and sturdy. Now, however, he has the opportunity to show that he can be a ‘gameplan player’, someone who can not only play for himself, but organise and elevate the other 14 players around him.

The good news for the Springboks is that Willemse has been part of the Bok squad for a number of years now, mostly playing as a utility back from the bench, so will be familiar with the systems and what will be required from him as a Test-level No 10.

Beyond Willemse, it will be interesting to see how Nienaber utilises this opportunity. The Bok coaches can, of course, try to play Jantjies back into form, but will they be brave enough to call one of the younger franchise flyhalves up to the squad?

By backing Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie, Nienaber has sent a message that youth and inexperience aren’t an issue for the Springboks. Jordan Hendrikse has grasped every opportunity given to him so far in his career (including an unexpected call-up to the Springbok Sevens team), so it should surely follow that it’s matter of time until his Test debut.

The Springboks have been thrown into a nightmare 2023 World Cup scenario a year early, but this is Nienaber’s chance to make sure that if the same happens next year, they will be fully prepared.

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Photo: Twitter: @Springboks