Jake White understands it will be tough on incumbent Manie Libbok, but says the Boks can ill-afford not to rope in flyhalf Handre Pollard for the rest of the World Cup.
This, amid speculation that Pollard will be called up to the Springbok camp in France, after he featured for English Premiership club Leicester Tigers against Sale Sharks on Friday night.
He kicked a conversion and got a yellow card off the bench as Leicester beat Sale 18-14 in Salford.
The world champions do have a gap in their squad after hooker Malcolm Marx was ruled out of the tournament. Currently, the Boks can count on Bongi Mbonambi and utility forward Deon Fourie as options at hooker, while Marco van Staden has been training to provide cover in the position.
Libbok starred in open play in the Boks’ World Cup-opening win against Scotland last week, setting up Kurt-Lee Arendse’s try with a sensational no-look cross-kick, but his inconsistent goalkicking remains an issue.
Writing for RugbyPass.com, White believes that at the critical juncture of South Africa’s title defence, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber will need a proven sharpshooter like Pollard in the No 10 jersey.
“With every bit of bad news, however, could come a silver lining, and it would amaze me if tickets weren’t being purchased right now for Handre Pollard to be flying to the south of France,” the former Bok coach, now Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, writes.
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“I read that Deon Fourie or Marco van Staaden were pencilled in as emergency hooker cover anyway, and they’re ensconced within the camp. And if the regulations say, you have to replace a front-row specialist for another front row, why can’t they select Handre as a hooker – he’s certainly big enough!
“Seriously though, while this is tough on Manie Libbok who is a very talented player, you’re talking about bringing a World Cup winner coming into camp, so there’s no debate, and it softens the blow.
“So why is Pollard’s call-up so crucial? Well, look at the sharp end of World Cups. If you delve into the history books, there are not many tries scored in the semi-finals and finals, and therefore place kicking becomes a premium in those knockout games.
“Sure, you can mostly get away with a few miscues in the Pool stages, but in semi-finals and finals, drop-kicks and penalty kicks win you World Cups. It’s as simple as that.”
Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP