Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Forgot About Handre: The Springboks' First Five Dilemma

By Jamie Wall
Handre Pollard

This weekend’s All Blacks vs Springboks match sees arguably the two best first five-eigths in the world go head-to-head in Beauden Barrett and Elton Jantjies. But, asks Jamie Wall, where does that leave Handre Pollard?

ADVERTISEMENT

Even the most one-eyed fans out there have to admit Beauden Barrett is the top number 10 in world rugby right now. The All Black first five has seemingly developed some sort of telepathic relationship with the ball in 2016, whether he’s kicking it, receiving it or running it.

The All Blacks are short odds favourites to dispense with the Springboks in Christchurch on Saturday, which is a shame considering the unparalleled rivalry the two nations have had over the last 95 years. It’s even more of a shame considering the absolute classic tests that the sides have produced over the last few years.

But also, from a Springbok point of view, it’s a shame because they’re the only other side going around these days that can actually boast some depth at first five. Starting this weekend will be Elton Jantjies, who put together a stunning body of work during Super Rugby.

Jantjies’ Lions side defied all conventional logic to make it all the way to the final, and a lot of that can be put down to the 26-year-old’s running and goal kicking. Ultimately, they lost that game (to Barrett’s Hurricanes, no less), but gained a serious amount of respect and hope for the upcoming test season.

[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473306980″]

Meanwhile, sitting back in South Africa somewhere, is Handre Pollard. On the mend from a season-ending knee injury, Pollard was the Boks’ starting 10 for the last two seasons. He guided them to victory over the All Blacks in 2014 (scoring two tries), as well as booting 15 points in their 18-20 loss to the eventual World Champions in last year’s World Cup semifinal.

Many had pegged Pollard to be the man to take charge of a Springbok backline for the foreseeable future, but his injury and Jantjies’ irresistible form have thrown a little bit of doubt over that.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, he has got the advantage of the fact that the Boks are currently going through one of their lowest ebbs ever. Losses to Ireland, Argentina and now the struggling Wallabies (probably the most embarrassing of the lot) have all come on Jantjies’ watch. It’s unfair to blame him at all – in fact his goal kicking has been one of the rare highlights – but if this season keeps going the way it has it’ll be hard for Jantjies to escape the stigma attached to it.

If Pollard can force his way back with a successful 2017 Super Rugby comeback, it will be a pretty big deal given the contentious racial quota system the Springboks have been forced to adopt by the South African Ministry of Sport. Jantjies has definitely earned his place on merit this season, which either completely justified or utterly condemned the quota system depending on your point of view.

One thing is for sure about next year: Boks coach Allister Coetzee will just be happy to have depth in at least one position. Provided, that it, he still has a job by the end of the season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

44 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Diamond demands law change while accusing Tigers of illegal activity Diamond demands law change while accusing Tigers of illegal activity
Search