When will Pollard and Kolisi be back for Springboks?

At the start of the Rugby Championship, two veterans that have been sorely missed by the Springboks are Siya Kolisi and Handre Pollard, each being one of the most influential players in the forward pack and backline respectively.

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The team has also been without Ox Nche after suffering a pectoral muscle injury on the eve of the opening Test of 2023, and it was revealed on Thursday that he is still four to five weeks away from a return to play.

Jaden Hendrikse has also been sidelined with a shoulder injury, but could return for next weekend’s final Rugby Championship clash against Argentina.

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SPRINGBOKS HAPPY TO PLAY WAITING GAME

When it comes to Kolisi and Pollard, what’s abundantly clear is that the Springboks will afford them all the time they need to prove their fitness, with the final Springboks squad set to be announced on Tuesday, 8 August at a special event taking place from 2-4pm.

“If you think of Siya and Handré, I would say that they have proved themselves in the past, so I think that would count in their favour a little bit,” Nienaber said this week, as quoted by Rugby365.

“In terms of injuries, those are the two that will be out of action the longest. Hopefully they will be back before the World Cup, but if it isn’t, we will make a call on them towards the end of the tournament. One can take players like Handré and Siya without them having played a game before the World Cup. I think in the years that they have served South Africa, they have proven that they are good enough to do it.

“Siya was in the same position in 2019 having not played a single game. He was involved in the warm-up match against Japan, went to the World Cup and was very good. Similarly, Handré came out of a knee injury into the British and Irish Lions tour and didn’t play much before that tour. He went on to help us win the series.

“If everything goes well, hopefully they will make the warm-up games and again I reiterate, hopefully, but it is something you can’t predict. The one thing I can definitely tell you, is we will not push them.”

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