Springboks star Handre Pollard is likely to miss the Rugby Championship due to a calf injury.
29 June 2023
Published By Everything ZA Travel
Pollard picked up the injury while playing for Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership and has not recovered in time for the start of the Rugby Championship.
Pollard is a key player for the Springboks and his absence will be a major blow for the team. The Springboks are the defending champions of the Rugby Championship and will be looking to retain their title. However, without Pollard, they will be a much weaker side.
The Springboks have a number of other talented fly-halves, including Elton Jantjies, Damian Willemse, and Curwin Bosch. However, none of them are as experienced or as good as Pollard. It remains to be seen who will start at fly-half for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
Here are some additional details about Pollard’s injury:
- Pollard picked up the injury in Leicester Tigers’ Premiership semi-final against Saracens on June 17.
- He has been ruled out of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship squad.
- Pollard is expected to be out for six weeks.
- The Springboks will be without Pollard for their first three Rugby Championship matches against Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.
- The Springboks will hope that Pollard will be fit for their final Rugby Championship match against Argentina.
South Africa play Australia in Pretoria on July 8, New Zealand in Auckland on July 15 and Argentina in Johannesburg on July 29.
Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ director of rugby, said that the only real concern for the team ahead of the Rugby Championship is the fitness of Handre Pollard. Pollard is recovering from a calf injury and is not yet fully fit.
Erasmus said that Damian Willemse is ready to go and will be the Springboks’ starting fly-half if Pollard is not fit. Willemse is a talented player and has played well for the Springboks in the past. However, he does not have the same experience as Pollard.
Here are some additional details about Pollard and Willemse:
- Pollard is a 28-year-old fly-half who has played 60 Tests for the Springboks. He is considered to be one of the best fly-halves in the world.
- Willemse is a 22-year-old utility back who can play fly-half, fullback, and wing. He has played 10 Tests for the Springboks.
- Erasmus said that he is confident that the Springboks will be able to cope without Pollard. He said that the team has a lot of depth and that they will be able to find a way to win without him.
