Bath head coach admits Handre Pollard is too good to target
Johann van Graan, the Bath head coach, has admitted it is pointless to target double World Cup winner Handre Pollard when the Premiership leaders head to Leicester on Sunday because the Springbok No10 cannot be shackled.
Van Graan, the former Munster and Springboks forwards coach, was part of the South African management at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, working with Pollard and said: “There is no specific plan for Handre, he is too good to target specifically.
“I have coached Handre for a very long time and he is one of the best and the ultimate professional. Handre loves big moments and if you look at the three Rugby World Cups ( 2015, 2019, 2023) that he has been involved in, he makes his kicks in big games.
“He is playing in a class team and so we give them all the respect they deserve. To play the Tigers on the last day of 2023, if you don’t enjoy these games, why are you in the game? We cannot wait.”
Van Graan also had fulsome praise for Jasper Wiese, the Springbok No8, who has been a ball carrying dynamo for eighth placed Tigers, helping them to the Premiership title in 2022.
He has been topping the weekly ball carrying statistics in the league and van Graan said: “I came across Jasper the first time when he was playing for the Cheetahs and he came of the bench against Munster and you saw this dynamic ball carrier. Steve Borthwick signed him for Leicester and what a journey he has been on.
“He was perceived to have poor discipline at one stage and team’s targeted him and he has become one of the premier ball carriers in world rugby. What he has done for Leicester is incredible and he is the leading ball carrier in the Premiership averaging 20 carries a game.
“What he did for South Africa was also incredible – has worked hard at his game and he is tough. He is one of the best players in the Premiership in my view.”
Van Graan has no concerns about maintaining a rotation policy in the Premiership believing the Bath squad’s strength in depth is good enough to take on Leicester at Welford Road. He added: “Game 17 in this block has just gone and we have still got five to go and it seems like it is never ending. No player will play every weekend and we believe that whatever team is selected that will be good enough to get a result if we follow our process.
“There are some very good teams in the competition and the one we are facing is one of the premier clubs in world rugby and Welford Road is one of the more difficult places to go to.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
20 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
44 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
44 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
44 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to comments