Rassie Erasmus urges caution: Handre Pollard is NOT Superman

Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, said that such intense and competitive encounters between well-matched teams comes down to small margins, with the difference on this occasion determined by goalkicking.

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The Springboks’ inconsistent place kicking was yet again laid bare in one of their most crucial Tests of the year and it resulted in the team suffering a Rugby World Cup defeat to Ireland in Paris on Saturday night.

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And with Ireland all-but securing top spot in the Pool B standings with that result, it leaves South Africa having to fight with Scotland for the second position on the pool log.

SPRINGBOKS LEFT TO RUE MISSED KICKS! NOW WHAT?

While the poor goal-kicking wasn’t the sole reasons for the Springboks’ defeat, it certainly was one of the main contributing factors.

South Africa left 11 points out on the field, after flyhalf Manie Libbok and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk combined to miss three penalties and a conversion.

But the Springboks’ brains trust has refused to blame goal-kicking for the loss.

“When number one in the world plays number two, the game is going to be decided by a margin of one of two or three points played in a really intense Test match atmosphere,” Rassie Erasmus said, “and I don’t think they converted more chances than we did – they just kicked two more penalties than us.”

“A good team like Ireland, New Zealand or France are going to keep you out – like we did to Ireland – so converting chances is not easy. They scored one try and we scored one try; it was clear that our problem was that we didn’t convert our goal kicks.”

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However, Rassie Erasmus said it would be unfair to expect miracles from recalled flyhalf Handre Pollard, who was called into the squad on Monday following injury to hooker Malcolm Marx.

‘Not Superman’

The 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning flyhalf only returned to the playing field as a replacement for his English club Leicester in the last 10 days after four and a half months on the sidelines with a calf injury.

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“Everyone must keep it in perspective,” said Rassie Erasmus. “Handre Pollard is not Superman and can’t come back as fully ready after playing only 30 minutes of rugby since his injury.

“He can’t just come onto the field to kick goals, he must also be able to sidestep, hand-off, make tackles, clean out at the ruck and that’s obviously not the case now because he has only had a full week’s training with us.

“That’s why he wasn’t up for selection for the squad in the first place, but he is definitely up for selection this week.

“Let’s give Handre a chance to find his rhythm and see how he does with the other stuff. Tonga will be a great yardstick to see how he goes.”

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Meanwhile, Rassie Erasmus said he was happy with the play of Manie Libbok, the Boks’ first choice flyhalf and goalkicker in 2023.

“Manie is definitely playing brilliant flyhalf rugby at this stage but obviously his goalkicking isn’t matching that,” Rassie Erasmus explained.

“If you weigh up the different things he does, he makes a great contribution to the team, but he is in a bit of a dip with his goalkicking – he knows it, we know it and the world knows it,” Rassie Erasmus concluded.

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