Handre Pollard reportedly pulled from the second Test

Reports are surfacing that Springboks flyhalf Handre Pollard has been pulled from the second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town.

According to Netwerk24, the 32-year-old has a calf injury and will not take his place in the No.10 jersey.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who started the first Test, was named on the bench with Pollard elevated into the starting line-up. Mannie Libbok is expected to replace Pollard but it is unclear yet who will start and who will be on the bench.

Pollard was sidelined in July due to a hamstring injury ahead of the third and final Nations Championship fixture against Wales, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu has overcome an ankle injury suffered in the URC quarter-final to be ready for this series.

After two indifferent showings by Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Erasmus has turned to Pollard for his ability to deliver under “extreme pressure”.

“Handre has delivered for us under extreme pressure, and we feel that what he and Cobus have the potential to bring at the beginning of the game, and then have Morne and Sacha come on later with their different styles of play, will be good for us this weekend,” he said of the selection.

There still remains a question mark over captain Siya Kolisi who was named alongside Paul de Villiers on the team sheet.

Kolisi returned from injury against Argentina but left before half-time with a hamstring issue.