Pollard injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Springboks

Test rugby season is almost upon us now, with the Springboks gearing up to take on Australia in their Rugby Championship opener next week.

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The Springboks and Australia are set to do battle at a sold out Loftus Versfeld Stadium, the same venue that that kicked off the South Africans’ season last year.

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As the Springboks return to the same venue, they will find themselves with the same problem that faced them in 2022. That is the absence of first choice flyhalf Handre Pollard. Pollard had been part of a contingent of players that joined the Bok camp later, due to lingering club commitments abroad at the time, with the flyhalf reins handed to the experienced Elton Jantjies. That was a night that where Jantjies was again given the opportunity to prove that he is a worthy and trusted deputy to Pollard, or even stake his own claim as the new first choice pivot.

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In the end, it looked like Jantjies failed that test and after a poor performance, he was dropped from the squad and played just once more in Australia in the Rugby Championships. That, in itself raised many concerns within the South African rugby fraternity about the strength and depth of the country’s stocks at flyhalf. Later that year, Damian Willemse would step up in that position, but his shortcoming with the boot, particularly in the loss to World Number One ranked side Ireland, brought Springbok supporters back to the reality that, he might not be quite ready yet to be specialist flyhalf at international level.

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One man that was on that same End of year Tour was Willemse’s Stormers teammate Manie Libbok. Fresh from a very impressive United Rugby Championship winning campaign from flyhalf, the Humansdorp-born star was patiently waiting on the wings for his opportunity to prove his pivot credentials in the famous green and gold jersey. After many cries for his inclusion, he found himself on the bench against France, making his debut in the dying minutes of that agonising lose. But it was his prolonged cameo against Italy that had Springbok supporters absolutely salivating over his influence in that role.

SPRINGBOKS COULD NEED BOTH POLLARD AND LIBBOK’S DIFFERENT STYLES AT RWC

A very different flyhalf to Pollard, the difference quickly told as he, like a conductor, he had his backline singing a tune they had not been taught before. Springbok fans did not get their wish to see Libbok start against England, but after yet another stellar URC, leading the Stormers to the final this time around, the fans may just get what they want.

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Despite that exquisite form, there is an acceptance that the Springboks prefer to play their rugby in a certain way and the flyhalf that has been at the centre of it all for years now is Pollard. Therefore, the 29-year-old is still considered to be Jacques Nienaber’s first choice. And when you look at the success of the ‘Springbok way’ and how he has been so reliable in it, then you certainly can’t fault that decision.

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But on that European tour last year, the Springbok regime surprisingly showed a willingness to play in a different way. Giving the ball more air through hands, giving their elusive backline players an opportunity to be a threat. That particular game plan being one Libbok has mastered for two seasons at the Stormers.

TIME TO SEE WHAT LIBBOK IS ABOUT AT SPRINGBOK LEVEL

Now, although never ideal to lose a key player or any player through injury, such is the nature of sport that, a set back to one, is an opportunity to another. In this case, the absence of Pollard will give two opportunities. One, the Springbok regime seeing what they have and if they can finally get a reliable back up to Pollard heading into the bigger picture, the defence of their Rugby World Cup crown later this year and two, for Libbok to prove those who say he cannot have the same impact at Test level wrong.

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With Pollard the Springboks know exactly what they are going to get, and that is a great place to be in with one of your key players. But with Libbok, it still remains a mystery just how far his ceiling could stretch at Test level. All that remains now is a choice from the management on whether to try and fit Libbok into the traditional ‘Springbok way’ or continue playing the tune they started learning on the tour, with a conductor who knows it very well, in Libbok, leading the orchestra.