The Springboks will be sweating the injury of flyhalf Handre Pollard after he was a late change for Sunday’s Premiership semi-final between Leicester Tigers and Sale Sharks.
Pollard’s injury status remains undisclosed, but the last-minute withdrawal saw Jimmy Gopperth take his starting spot for Leicester.
His standout performances for the Tigers over the 2022-23 campaign has been a massive news story for SA rugby, and the World Cup winner is expected to be a key figure for the Boks in a massive 2023 season.
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However, the 29-year-old’s injury battles are well documented and he missed the end-of-year tour to the UK and France in 2022 due to a knee problem.
A pre-match statement read: “Leicester Tigers have been forced into a late change to the match-day squad for today’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final against Sale Sharks.
“Handre Pollard is out through injury and has been replaced at flyhalf by Jimmy Gopperth, who was originally named among the replacements.”
Sale emerged victorious with a 21-13 win, ending Tigers’ title defence hopes and securing a spot in the Premiership final for the first time in 17 years.