Rassie Erasmus doubles down on Henry Pollock verdict

South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus views Henry Pollock as England’s dangerman heading into Saturday’s Ellis Park collision.

The back-to-back world champions have named a formidable team for the Nations Championship opener that is led by Siya Kolisi and features a host of stars, including Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende.

England showman Pollock impressed in the climax to Northampton’s Gallagher Prem title march by making hard yards at number eight and he looks set to continue with his high-impact bench role in the first of three Tests next month.

Erasmus refuses to be drawn on why the 21-year-old is cast as the pantomime villain in South Africa – former Springboks flanker Schalk Burger described him as a “TikTok dancer who plays a bit of rugby” and he is often targeted by their fans on social media – but admires his qualities as a player.

“For us to comment on a guy like him not knowing his contribution as a character in their team would be stupid,” Erasmus said.

“None of us can say we know him as a person. How can we judge him? His team mates probably love him so what does it matter what the world says? His team mates love him and he does well there.

“All we can do is analyse how he plays rugby and he is a massive threat. He is a flipping good rugby player.

“He’s a very good rugby player, not just on the defensive side or the attacking side, but also on the physical side.”

South Africa team: D Willemse (DHL Stormers); C Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), J Kriel (Canon Eagles), D de Allende (Wild Knights), K-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls); M Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), G Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks); O Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), M Marx (Kubota Spears), T du Toit (Bath),E Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), R Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), S Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks, capt), P-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), J Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Replacements: J-H Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), G Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Z Porthen (DHL Stormers), M van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), C Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), C Reinach (DHL Stormers), A Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), C Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).