Pollard is most consistent off the tee

One of the major talking points following the Springboks’ World Cup loss to Ireland on Saturday has been the team’s trouble from the kicking tee, with Manie Libbok missing two shots, while Faf de Klerk also put another couple of long-distance attempts wide of the posts.

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In a notable article, the Springbok coaches confirmed they will weigh the team’s goal-kicking options in the wake of the narrow defeat by Ireland (13-8), and they have now brought Handre Pollard back into the starting line-up for this Sunday’s clash against Tonga.

The veteran flyhalf will also resume goalkicking duties, and coach Jacques Nienaber explained that this was something that had to be sorted out.

“The first reality is for all to see and it’s that we are not as consistent as the tee as one should hope we can be,” Nienaber said. “I think in some games, we kick 100 percent, if you go back in history there are some Test matches where we didn’t miss a kick at goal, like France in 2022 and we used three different kickers that night.

“But we are not consistently there. In some games, we will kick 100 percent, in some games we will kick 80 percent, and in some games, we will kick less than 50 percent. So that’s the first reality.

“The second reality is that the guy who is the most consistent off the tee for us is Handre, but like I mentioned, he has been injured. He didn’t participate in any Test matches for us in 13 months.

“So, I think the whole goalkicking thing, the flyhalf thing that’s building up, I think the people out there and the fans, it’s not just a simple thing as is it goalkicking? It’s not, it’s a much more complex thing.”

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POLLARD HAS RETURNED TO THE SPRINGBOK TEAM VS TONGA:

15 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 89 caps, 70 pts (14t)
14 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 7 caps, 10 (2t)
13 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps, 20 pts (4t)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) – 15 caps, 0pts
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 40 caps, 130 pts (26t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 67 caps, 665 pts (7t, 91c, 145pg, 5d)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 29 caps, 60 pts (12t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 25 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7 – Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby) – 72 caps, 15 pts (3t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 78 caps, 50 pts (10t)
5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 15 caps, 0 pts
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 115 caps, 25 pts (5t)
3 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 46 caps, 0pts
2 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 5 pts (1t)
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 24 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 17 caps, 0 pts
17 – Steven Kitshoff (Ulster) – 78 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 65 caps, 5 pts (1t)
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 69 caps, 15 pts (3t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 36 caps, 30 pts (6t)
21 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 14 caps, 12 pts (2t, 1c)
22 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 64 caps, 70 pts (14t)
23 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 11 caps, 74 pts (1t, 21c, 9pg)

Stats in front of goal so far at the World Cup

Interestingly, a social media post also shows that the Springboks’ goalkicking record for the whole World Cup so far is a real cause for concern.

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