Handre Pollard has reflected fondly on his experience in South Africa’s successful U20 World Championship campaign, when the Junior Springboks won the tournament on home soil.
Pollard was just 18 years old when he capped a dream 2012 by helping the Junior Springboks win the U20 Championship. In the same year, Pollard represented Western Province at the U18 Craven Week and South Africa at the U18 International Series.
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The Junior Springboks started their 2012 campaign with a loss to Ireland, but rallied and reached the final against New Zealand, winning 22-16 at a packed Newlands Stadium, where Pollard contributed 12 points.
It was an invaluable experience for Pollard, who went on to captain the Junior Springboks and then make his senior Test debut.
“Winning it in 2012 will always be up there, but being able to captain the team in 2014 was a great honour and privilege,” he told World Rugby.
“I look back with so much joy and good memories. Playing in big-pressure games like that at such a young age is so valuable and so fun to experience. It taught me very important lessons very early on in my career that I could apply going forward.
“The fight in that team was something special. After losing the first game in the format that the U20 Championship is played, it is very hard to make the playoffs. But with the support of our home fans and getting to play at the iconic Newlands, everything just came together for us.”
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Pollard is one of three players from that 2012 team that would help the Springboks win the World Cup in 2019, including Steven Kitshoff and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
The Junior Springboks are back on home soil, looking to win the tournament again when they get started against Georgia in Stellenbosch on 24 June.
“Just to enjoy every moment,” Pollard advised the new generation. “It’s such a privilege to play in a World Cup at home. Enjoy the pressures that will come with it and embrace it.”
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