Nick Mallett has slammed Jacques Nienaber’s decision to leave Handre Pollard out of the World Cup squad as “puzzling”, but backed the flyhalf to still play a big role for the Springboks in France.
Pollard, the top-scorer at the 2019 World Cup, was one of three big omissions from the 33-player World Cup squad announced in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
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The 65-cap flyhalf has not played a Test since last August and has been struggling with a calf injury which has kept him on the sidelines since early May.
However, writing in his regular column for Sport24, Mallett admitted Pollard’s omission left him perplexed, especially in the context of similar decisions made around captain Siya Kolisi and scrumhalf Grant Williams.
“It’s strange that Pollard is not included. There are examples of other players who are injured and were included.
“You’ve got captain Siya Kolisi, who hasn’t played since his injury, you’ve got Jaden Hendrikse who hasn’t played since his injury and his father’s passing, you’ve got Grant Williams who got badly concussed and is out for three weeks at least.”
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Pollard is on a five-player standby list that will travel with the Springboks to the UK for the final two warm-up games against Wales and New Zealand.
Mallett believes Pollard will play in at least one of those games and will be called into the squad at the first sign of injury to any player.
“Pollard has to go, in the same way Siya Kolisi has to go,” the former Bok coach added.
“Pollard is part of the players placed on standby and I think he’s going to play in the warm-up matches. How long can a calf injury keep you out for? He’s had eight weeks.
“He’s not in the squad so he can’t be selected. But if there is an injury to any player, including a prop, I think Pollard will go. They don’t have to replace a prop with a prop, you can replace him with a flyhalf.”
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