OPEN LETTER TO SPRINGBOKS: Change the goal-kicker, Libbok OUT, Pollard IN!

The Springboks lost to Ireland largely due to their poor goal-kicking. This has to change, and now. It is time for Handre Pollard to return.

POLL: HOW DOES HANDRE POLLARD FIT INTO THE SPRINGBOKS?

The reality is this: if we had a world-class goalkicker, the Springboks would have beaten Ireland.

Furthermore, they would be the number one ranked side in the world right now.

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DEAR SPRINGBOKS, NIENABER AND RASSIE, POLLARD MUST KICK

Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus, please heed our call. Manie Libbok is a quality player, but his goalkicking is not up to the standards needed if we are to successfully defend our Rugby World Cup trophy. Nor is Faf. Libbok and de Klerk missed four kicks at goal, costing the Springboks 11 points in a match they lost by just five (13-8). In all honesty, Pollard would have likely got at least two (five points through conversion and penalty), likely three (eight points) and possibly four of these kicks (11 points). This means we would have won the test or at least drawn against the Irish. Now, it is not the sole reason for our loss, as we missed opportunities, but it was the difference between winning and losing.

If this was a quarter-final, we would be out of the Rugby World Cup, and four years of planning would be thrown out because of missed kicks. From here on out, it is knockout rugby, as the Boks have to win every game, so every point will be crucial. Pollard has to play for the kicks at goal.

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PERFECT TIME TO EASE POLLARD BACK

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Pollard has missed the whole international season due to injury. So, the Boks understandably did not want to rush him back against Ireland.

Therefore, the match against Tonga presents the perfect opportunity to ease him back in. Pollard could come off the bench and get a good 20-30 minutes or even start. This is because Tonga are not a Tier 1 nation, and the Boks are expected to win comfortably.

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