Timely boost for the Springboks as Handre Pollard returns to the fray

Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard made his return from a serious knee injury on Saturday as he came off the bench for French outfit Montpellier.

READ | JOHN DOBSON REMAINS LOYAL TO STORMERS BY SIGNING NEW CONTRACT

Pollard was brought on with 22 minutes to go and landed a late penalty to help the mega-rich Top 14 giants in booking a place in the European Challenge Cup final with a 19-10 win over Bath.

Handre Pollard tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Montpellier in a French Top 14 clash against Racing 92 last October.

It is great news for the Boks ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series in July with Pieter-Steph du Toit and RG Snyman also returning to action after injuries.

READ | BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: WARREN GATLAND SENDS SAVE-THE-DATE LETTERS TO PLAYERS

And Montpellier scrumhalf Benoit Paillaugue said Handre Pollard will have “a very big role to play” for the rest of the season.

“He’s a very important part of our team. He”s got a lot of experience and will help us a lot at the end of the season. He has a very big role to play,” Paillaugue said.

READ | ROSKO SPECMAN A SPRINGBOK BOLTER FOR BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SERIES?

Montpellier will face Leicester Tigers in the final on May 21 at Twickenham, where 10 000 fans will be allowed to attend.

READ | HANDRE POLLARD IS BACK! HELPS MONTPELLIER REACH CHALLENGE CUP FINAL