Handre Pollard was mowing the lawn when Rassie Erasmus called

Handre Pollard has revealed he was busy mowing his lawn in Leicester when he received a phone call from Rassie Erasmus asking him to rejoin the Springbok Rugby World Cup squad.

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According to SABC Sport, Pollard admitted to being crushed when he missed out on initial selection for the tournament due to not having fully recovered from his knee injury, calling it an “extreme low”.

“Of course it was disappointing,” he said.

“We pushed as hard as we could to get me ready in time, but it was a few weeks too late to show the coaches that I was fit.”

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However, as the Springboks made their way through the pool stages in France, the 29-year-old was completing his comeback from injury, and he had barely returned to the field for his first taste of action with Leicester when the call from Erasmus came in.

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The Springboks had suffered a major blow by losing their star hooker Malcolm Marx, and the Springbok coaches had decided to use the available position in their squad to bring back their World Cup-winning flyhalf.

Handre Pollard was ‘flawless’ at the Rugby World Cup

Pollard admits he could scarcely believe it when the call came in.

“I was actually busy mowing my lawn in Leicester, getting ready for a game there for Leicester and Rassie phoned me.” he revealed.

“I said to the manager, I said, are you serious, because I was in a bit of shock.

“Of course you hope for the goal, but you never really think you’re going to get it and then to get it was just unbelievable.

“I was just super excited of course when that happened, just so happy.”

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The decision to recall Pollard proved to be a masterstroke as he ended up playing a massive role in the Springboks’ knockout victories at the World Cup, emerging with a flawless 100% kicking record.

Pollard kicked four penalties in the Springboks’ 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the final at the Stade de France in Paris on 28 October.

The victory was a record fourth – in eight attempts – for the Springboks.

They will be looking to make it a fifth title in 2027 in Australia.

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