Since the start of this season, the Springboks have steadfastly stuck to a player rotation system, and that has led to a change in role for Handre Pollard – who has quite regularly served as a member of the ‘bomb squad’.
After featuring as a substitute in four of the recent Rugby Championship Tests, Pollard has headed back to English club Leicester Tigers as he enters the final season on his current contract.
According to RugbyPass, Pollard – who reportedly earns £600,000 a year (R13.65m) – is most likely set to return to Japan for domestic rugby if he does indeed end up leaving Leicester.
Apparently it comes as Leicester have been linked with interest in Scarlets flyhalf Sam Coselow, who could effectively serve as a replacement for Pollard.
Changing role for Handre Pollard
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Pollard is still only 30-years-old, but he admitted earlier this season that he was also happy to be taking on a mentorship role at times.
“I’m not that old, hey, but it’s fun,” Pollard said. “The guys are exciting, and they are eager to learn and that’s nice and when we were young, guys also helped us.
“The good thing is that there’s healthy competition in the group, which is nice, but we all have the same goal, which is bigger than the individual.
“If we can help the young guys with one or two things, that’s great because we’re also learning a lot from them as well.
“You always need to try and develop and stay fresh, and the new guys bring that. It’s enjoyable, competitive, but it’s really good.”
Looking at the national team’s planning, Pollard said they were excited to have this period after a World Cup triumph to “try new things”.
“After the 2019 World Cup, we missed out on the first couple of years, but those first two years is where you really build and experiment.
“We’re trying new things, and you can see that with our game with Jerry and Tony. It’s really exciting and every new game is a challenge.
“We take it week by week, but we know there’s a bigger plan and to play with the younger guys, along with the older dogs who are still here, means we have a good blend.
“It really excites us because we’re in a good place, but we want more, and we want to become better. We’re striving to go up another level and the excitement is certainly there.”
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