The 20-year-old has been named at out-half in Heyneke Meyer’s starting XV to face the Scots in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Pollard captained the Baby Boks at the JWC in New Zealand, scoring 65 points over the course of the tournament.
Having played three consecutive years at U20 level and with 10 Super Rugby appearances on his CV, Meyer feels that the youngster is now ready for the demands of a senior international Test match.
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Pollard – who was named 2014 IRB Junior Player of the Year - has long been tipped as a future Springbok and at 6′ 2″ and 96kg, there should be few physical issues in stepping up. There will be more focus on the out-half’s ability to manage the game in the absence of first-choice number 10 Morné Steyn.
Handré is a very talented player and has a big opportunity this week, but he’ll have Fourie du Preez’s experience next to him, while he’s played a lot with Jan Serfontein before,” Meyer told SA Rugby.
“It’s great to have the current and a former World Junior Player of the Year in the same backline.”
Elsewhere, Meyer has made a further five changes to the XV that beat Wales 31-30 last weekend, with Schalk Burger coming into the back row and Coenie Oosthuizen getting the nod at loosehead.
21-year-old lock Lood de Jager makes his first start in the second row, while Lwazi Mvovo is selected on the left wing and Marcell Coetzee gets an opportunity in the number six shirt.
Zane Kirchner is set for his first international appearance of 2014 off the bench. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Leinster’s Zane Kirchner is among the replacements, set to make his first Test appearance in 2014. Meyer was denied the services of his England and France-based players as this fixture occurs outside the official IRB window for international games.
South Africa: Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, Lwazi Mvovo; Handré Pollard, Fourie du Preez; Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis; Lood de Jager, Victor Matfield (capt.); Marcell Coetzee, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Stephan Lewies, Teboho Mohoje, Francois Hougaard, Marnitz Boshoff, Zane Kirchner.
Would any of this year’s Ireland U20s be capable of making an immediate step up to senior international rugby? Are we too slow to promote young players or is Pollard an exceptional case?
Pollard goes straight from U20s into Springboks' number 10 shirt
JUST OVER A week after helping South Africa U20s to second place at the Junior World Championship, Handré Pollard will make his senior international debut against Scotland.
The 20-year-old has been named at out-half in Heyneke Meyer’s starting XV to face the Scots in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Pollard captained the Baby Boks at the JWC in New Zealand, scoring 65 points over the course of the tournament.
Having played three consecutive years at U20 level and with 10 Super Rugby appearances on his CV, Meyer feels that the youngster is now ready for the demands of a senior international Test match.
Pollard – who was named 2014 IRB Junior Player of the Year - has long been tipped as a future Springbok and at 6′ 2″ and 96kg, there should be few physical issues in stepping up. There will be more focus on the out-half’s ability to manage the game in the absence of first-choice number 10 Morné Steyn.
“It’s great to have the current and a former World Junior Player of the Year in the same backline.”
Elsewhere, Meyer has made a further five changes to the XV that beat Wales 31-30 last weekend, with Schalk Burger coming into the back row and Coenie Oosthuizen getting the nod at loosehead.
21-year-old lock Lood de Jager makes his first start in the second row, while Lwazi Mvovo is selected on the left wing and Marcell Coetzee gets an opportunity in the number six shirt.
Leinster’s Zane Kirchner is among the replacements, set to make his first Test appearance in 2014. Meyer was denied the services of his England and France-based players as this fixture occurs outside the official IRB window for international games.
Would any of this year’s Ireland U20s be capable of making an immediate step up to senior international rugby? Are we too slow to promote young players or is Pollard an exceptional case?
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Handré Pollard Junior Play of the Year out-half Skills Springboks stepping up Zane Kirchner